One of my Facebook posts invited a good response last week. It read as follows: Babush is BJP’s friend. Madkaikar is Babush’s friend. Rudresh and Tony are friends of Babush and altogether they have three panels in the CCP election.
The 2011 CCP battle between Babush Monserrate and Manohar Parrikar was converted into a David vs Goliath kind of a scenario with some of the eminent residents of Panaji throwing their weight behind the then opposition leader. Babush unleashed his full campaign force against the BJP and ended up grabbing simple majority in spite of the strategic brilliance of Manohar Parrikar, backing of the hard core cadre and well wishes of the high and mighty in the capital city rooting for the PINK panel.
All this grandstanding ended with that election. Babush changed his direction and embarked on “Chalo St Cruz” by dumping his “Chalo Panaji” theme that was specifically coined for the CCP election. Manohar Parrikar went on to become the CM and the bonhomie returned in the Taleigao-Panaji stratosphere.
Parrikar’s exit from Goa’s politics should have rewritten the rules of this camaraderie. However, the “bromance” continued. Babush publicly opposed candidature of Surendra Furtado, then mayor of Panaji and Congress candidate. Surendra complained against the then St Cruz Congress MLA to the Congress party and Luizinho Faleiro expelled Monserrate from the party; a fair display of strength and much needed party discipline.
Babush worked against Surendra Furtado and the Congress during that by-election and after ZP election, which was held on party lines, supported the ruling party to acquire North Goa ZP chairmanship. He remained mum in the assembly and spoke only when he was reminded of terrible condition of roads in Taleigao (not St Cruz). He did not attack the government at all and the CCP got a BJP mayor in its last year of this term with Babush holding simple majority in the corporation.
Now, the draggers are drawn “ once again. The script is similar. “Chalo Panaji”, “Man of Development” and the anti-BJP rant. Only this time, it is Sidharth Kuncalieker and not Manohar Parrikar. Interestingly, Surendra Furtado, who was instrumental in getting Babush expelled from the Congress, is fighting this election as one of his candidates. Babush’s old pals “ Rudresh and Tony “ have become new friends of the Congress; and Pandurang Madkaikar, out of nowhere has gone into a combative mode.
Whenever Churchill Alemao rejoined the Congress (I think he has joined Congress at least five times till now) he uttered his favorite idiom “ there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Panaji is a classic example of this “numb-rule” in state-craft. It has some of the most educated voters, some of the finest minds and institutions of learning “ yet, we are always made to understand that the BJP cannot win Panaji assembly seat without the support of Babush Monserrate.
Congress however has never considered Panaji as a serious companion. They fielded Keshave Prabhu “ he joined BJP. They backed Silim Khan “ went out of politics. They bestowed the ticket on Dinar Tarcar “ he joined MGP. Yatin Parekh joined Babush and Surendra Furtado too went the Taleigao way. In simple words, Congress never groomed any leader in Panaji. Except Keshav Prabhu in 1994 and 1999, Congress never repeated their candidate in the capital city with Manohar Parrikar as MLA. It was always a one election love affair with each candidate.
Now Congress is not finding 30 candidates to field in CCP election (mind you, they had a sitting MLA in Panaji in 1984 & 1989), Sidharth has more than 60 aspirants and battling infighting where as Babush is as usual “ cherry picking. Whatever may be the result, the City “Corporation” will be back to the City “Co-operation”, once again. Else why would you see Yatin Parekh (Babush Panel), Surendra Furtado (No Panel) and Shubham Chodankar (BJP Panel) be Mayors in the same term with Babush holding the majority?
With assembly election just a year ahead, Panaji might not just be a CCP confined election. It’s a precursor to the main event in 2017. The signs are already visible. A party in power always nurtures more aspirants. That’s what is happening to the BJP. A lame opposition like Congress always struggles to infuse confidence in its workers, let alone voters. That’s what is happening with the Congress. And neo-satraps like Babush always play their game keeping 3-4 seats in mind. And that’s what is happening with the Monserrates and Vijai Sardesais.
Vijai has aligned with Babush as he understands this phenomenon. With Congress trying to upset him in Fatorda and BJP bigwigs challenging him on his home turf, his endgame is seriously getting narrowed. He knows Goa Forward cannot score the magical 21 in the assembly election. He is well aware about the Ranes and Dhavalikars. His anti-BJP option cannot uproot these heavyweights nor can he convincingly conquer some of the BJP’s stronghold constituencies. He needs to realign. And the options are limited as they are for Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal. Rohan has refrained from joining Vijai by stating a conditional fact “ let Babush withdraw support to the BJP in North Goa ZP first. Only then I will support his panel “ smart. Naresh is sticking to his usual narrative. Don’t ask me anything beyond Bicholim “ smarter.
In short, Panaji is just a trailer with some blockbuster scenes and nail biting screen-play. Picture to abhi baaki hai mere dost!
Pramod Acharya is the Editor, Prudent Media
