Goa Forward Party officially announced pulling out of the National Democratic Alliance, over two-and-half years after the State government led by Pramod Sawant slammed the door on the party. The question is why did it take party chief Vijai Sardesai this long to call it quits? Was Sardesai waiting for an opportune time to silence his political opponents? Or was there a looming fear of a backlash, on the lines faced by several others who turned hostile against the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine, that was holding him back?
It baffled political minds on why Goa Forward was stuck to the BJP-led coalition at the Centre, despite being at loggerheads with the saffron brigade in the State. The scathing attacks on the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Pramod Sawant were difficult to fathom and smacked of political hypocrisy. Could this be a move to resurrect the political fortunes of Goa Forward? The municipal elections are here, and the road to assembly elections is round the corner. The decision to bid goodbye to NDA comes at a time when Goa Forward is at a cross-road, desperately seeking to tide over a turbulent electoral phase with the help of Congress.
Lately, with the noise of the Margao municipal elections rising to a crescendo, the pressure on Sardesai and his civic ally Digambar Kamat was showing. Kamat may heave a sigh of relief over Sardesai’s move to leave the coalition because it now puts him in a comfort zone. However, questions will still be raised over the Margao MLA’s decision to go with Goa Forward given the ‘betrayal’ of 2017 and the bitter acrimony within party ranks.
On Tuesday, Gudi Padwa marked the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu calendar and Sardesai’s announcement gives a new dimension to the chequered political landscape of the State. Much against the pre-condition to sever ties with the BJP-led coalition at the Centre before forging an association with the Congress, party chief Sardesai’s decision indicates that he is looking beyond municipal elections.
Last Saturday, the Fatorda Block Congress came out strongly against the party’s move to align with Goa Forward, while setting a pre-condition for the Fatorda MLA to leave the NDA immediately. Sardesai has not only shed the baggage which was weighing heavily against his political ambitions but has also moved towards rapprochement with old rivals in the Congress offering to chart out a new course. The opposing Congress section, while laying too much emphasis on the NDA alignment probably anticipating that Sardesai may not pull out have lost face.
The regional parties have a humongous task of toppling BJP’s applecart, especially when it is flying high with a string of victories at the grass-root elections. The Congress is in disarray, but the Goa Forward will still need it to ride piggyback to reach its political goals. It remains to be seen if Sardesai manages to find favour with the Congress leaders now.
