The newly-elected MLAs have been inducted and the political churn that was expected after the bypolls petered out eventually. The BJP strength has shot up to 17, making it the single largest party. Now, what’s next? Will it still lure two more from the Congress? What about Goa Forward?
Picture this: On a day when BJP wins three out of the four bypolls, party president Vinay Tendulkar strongly reiterates that two Congress MLAs are set to cross over. The very same day, Congress doesn’t give up hope of forming government. Wait and watch, is their new line.
A few days before results, Congress candidate for Panaji Atanasio Monseratte alias Babush grows high on confidence of forming a new government and even throws broad hints that his former party’s supremo Vijai Sardesai could join the team. Underneath the uneasy calm, the contours of the Goan political landscape showed faint signs of changing yet again.
The fact of the matter is that Goa Forward becomes crucial to any dispensation for now. It’s also a fact that Vijai has been isolated in the post-Parrikar scenario. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant talking about reducing the dependence on allies and Tendulkar speaking of two more Congress MLAs joining the saffron brigade only suggests that the significance of Goa Forward is on the wane. Add to this BJP’s poor performance in Fatorda which clearly indicates that there was no transfer of Goa Forward votes to BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar.
Congress’ move to capitalize on this equation and draw up a new formula with Vijai to overturn the BJP government smacks of desperation. Further, at a time when the Congress itself is in the grip of internal instability, moves to destabilize the government could be counter-productive to the allies, with high risks of finding themselves in the middle of nowhere. And with a BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, it would be virtually like swimming against the tide for any non-BJP government in Goa.
The bypolls have boomeranged on Congress big time. The dividing line within the party is clearly visible and there is stiff opposition to moves of supporting a government headed by the Goa Forward. Girish Chodankar’s leadership has been questioned and so is his decision to throw himself in the ring when there were seasoned and better choices available in North Goa. The Congress also has no clue on who could be the next MLA to desert them, given the background that even senior names like Digambar Kamat have done the rounds in the past. Under such circumstances, it would only make better sense for the party to continue playing the waiting game.
In the meantime, the focus will be on how Vijai explains the Fatorda math at the Lok Sabha poll. The Goa Forward supremo was caught between taking the risk of exposing his voters to saffron flavours, and not doing enough on coalition dharma in terms of votes. Perhaps the BJP could understand his third option of shuffling between a detox programme and an overseas tour.
