The BJP has seized power in the two municipal councils ” Sanquelim and Ponda reinforcing the party's reach and the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. In Sanquelim, the home turf of Sawant, the BJP had a cakewalk with an 11-1 victory snatching it from a spineless Congress after ten years.
The elections to two municipalities were a picture of contrast. In Sanquelim, it was Sawant who was being put to the test for the first time after assuming the role of the chief minister. The Congress-backed panel led by the once giant-killer Dharmesh Saglani failed to rise to the challenge this time primarily because the Opposition failed to make their presence. The BJP, on the other hand, considered this election a matter of pride and electoral ego and designated its party president Sadanand Tanavde to handle the affairs in Sanquelim. North Goa MP Shripad Naik was asked to oversee Ponda.
With BJP riding high on its development plank, it managed to run over a mediocre Opposition to establish its clear majority in Sanquelim. However, it was not easy going in Ponda. While Sanquelim was the centre of attraction since it was the home turf of the CM, Ponda drew attention because of the new alignment of political forces with Ravi Naik and Sudin Dhavalikar, both veterans in respective areas, batting for the same side.
On paper, the BJP scored a 10-5 win to see them through comfortably, and the sons of Ravi Naik ” Ritesh and Roy romped home without hiccups. Nonetheless, the BJP had to labour hard, with some candidates winning by wafer-thin margins. For example, BJP's candidate in Ward 10 won by a solitary vote, while another candidate in Ward 3 won by three votes. And yet another candidate was declared by draw of lots after a tie in votes polled for two candidates.
Moreover, the Rising Ponda panel floated by Ketan Bhatikar appeared to be a thorn in the flesh for the BJP, securing four seats, and this is where the worry surfaces for the saffron brigade which was cushioning itself on the cent per cent representation given to the taluka. Going by BJP's calculation, Ponda should have been a clean sweep. However, the nail-biting finishes and the Rising Ponda uprising indicate that the BJP may not still be in a situation of comfort in Ponda's larger political equation.
While the party bosses sit in introspection, they will look at Ponda with an element of scepticism on the role of some of their supporting leaders and the undercurrents at play. The municipal council election may not be a barometer for Lok Sabha elections, but it has provided some food for thought to the success-hungry political dispensation.
Finally, both sons of Ravi Naik have comfortably made it through to the council, signalling that an heir to the senior's throne could be in the making. The question is about the BJP ground workers and the party leadership in the constituency, how they would reconcile to the change, and how the Opposition will play out. There is still a lot to be resolved in Ponda's politics.
