With an almost saturated electoral space, political tango in Goa is on a full swing. General election to the 40 member Goa Legislative Assembly is scheduled for Feb 14, 2022. With an average size of 28000 electorate in a constituency, victory in Goa is often a tight rope walk. This edition of assembly election is expected to be even more interesting. The unprecedented number of regional and national political parties contesting the election has left political pundits speculating more than ever.
Traditional players like BJP and Congress, the parties with national stature are facing stiff competition from new entrants like TMC, AAP, and Revolutionary Goans. Shiv-Sena along with popular regional parties like Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP, oldest regional political party in the State, alliance partner of TMC) and Goa Forward Party (GFP, alliance partner of Congress) are expected to be the king-makers in upcoming round of assembly elections.
The personality cult has dominated over the party cult in recent times in Goan politics. Political commentator Adv. Cleofato Almeida Coutinho confirms, “Prominent faces like Attanassio (Babush) Monserrate, BJP MLA from Panaji, who shifted from Congress to BJP in July 2019 along with 09 other Congress MLAs, are bound to win irrespective of the party affiliation. Entire Tiswadi taluka in North Goa (with Panaji, Taleigao, St. Cruz, St. Andre AC’s) is supposedly his political bastion. Similarly, Michael Lobo, former BJP MLA, who joined Congress in Jan 2022 and is Congress candidate from Calangute AC’s, is known to have his influence over 05 seats of Calangute, Siolim, Saligao, Mapusa and Aldona.”
If personality has to be the dictating force behind political prominence, Utpal Parrikar, S/o Late Manohar Parrikar, too has emerged as an interesting flashpoint in the assembly elections. After being denied ticket by BJP, Utpal has decided to contest as an independent candidate from Panaji. His run to secure legitimacy by counting upon his legacy, according to pundits, won’t be a cakewalk.
Interestingly, it is the vast array of new entrants who have rocked the political ship in Goa. Weighing on the chances of electoral triumph for AAP and TMC, Adv. Coutinho categorically says, “Yes for AAP, but a no for TMC.” The precarious state of affairs for TMC in state political landscape is reflected from the exodus of the very founding members of TMC in Goa.
In September 2021, Luizinho Faleiro, former CM (Congress) joined TMC along with his 08 associates like Yatish Naik (General Secretary of TMC, Goa), Lavoo Mamledar. While Yatish and Lavoo have already resigned from TMC, Faleiro expressed disinterest in contesting Assembly elections from Fatorda AC in South Goa, forcing the party to replace his candidature with Adcocate Seoula Vaz. Aleixo Reginaldo, a 3-time legislator, joined TMC after leaving Congress only to resign within weeks and is now contesting as an independent candidate.
Regional parties like MGP and GFP are poised to secure their traditional seats. Coutinho says, “…they do not vie for more, their only intention is to be the king-maker.” Other regional players like NCP, Shiv Sena etc. too might impact the political equations with a fair share in vote percentage and the odd wins.
But it is the defection which has taken the centerstage as a decider in Goan power play in recent times. The strength of the 40 member Goa Assembly has been reduced to 23 over the past 4 months. MLAs have either shifted their allegiance or have resigned from the parent party due to denial of candidature. While experts have raised alarms against the trend, the post-election engineering of popular mandate continues.
Family politics is another recent but disturbing trend in Goan politics. Pointing out the fact that a total of 05 couples are contesting the elections, Coutinho says, “Politics should ideally never be family based but there is no other alternative as student politics hardly exist in the state that can groom up politicians for future. The disinterest in political affairs in the present generation further aggravates the crisis.”
Political discourse in the election was brim with concerns such as linear projects through protected forest areas, iron-ore mining, coal transportation and the alleged corruption in recruitment drives. But experts believe that the dicey political allegiance of legislators makes it difficult for the voter to make a choice. Moreover, the personality cult compliments the dilution of such concerns.
While the predictability of winning candidates on select seats appears to be an easy call, tracing the roads to power for an alliance in Goa is like hunting in dark woods. While the state votes for the new government in a single-phase tomorrow, the counting carnival is certainly expected to surprise many around the nation.
Edited by NK Jha