Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national President Jagat Prakash Nadda’s backing of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to lead the party into the 2021 Assembly elections comes as a strategic masterstroke that clearly defines the electoral path. He may have left a small window open by adding that the party’s parliamentary board will eventually take a call, but the very fact that he has unanimously backed Sawant’s candidature sends out a striking message to detractors, disgruntled partymen and also to the Opposition parties.
Nadda’s thumbs up to Sawant assumes major significance against the backdrop of North Goa MP and recently inducted Minister of State for Tourism throwing subtle hints and expressing his willing ness to return to State politics. The theory of Shripad’s re-emergence in Goa politics that briefly ignited hopes of a new narrative in the BJP leadership has been grounded with Nadda stating that the MP’s interest has been taken care of and accordingly assigned a job in Delhi.
Projecting a face ahead of elections is a bold decision for any party because it overrides the possible repercussions on campaigns, especially when there are differences with the leadership. Sawant may be an acceptable face within the party according to the feedback Nadda received, but it would be wrong to conclude that there was no resentment in the ranks over Sawant’s decision-making. Periodic contradictory statements made by cabinet ministers like Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane bear testimony to this fact. Nadda by backing Sawant to the hilt has belittled the odds at hand.
Much against the apprehension that MLAs from the break-away Congress faction may jump ship on the eve of elections, Nadda’s comment that those who have joined the party have acclimatized to the party’s style of functioning and have settled in the ecosystem is enough of an indicator that the BJP is pinning its hopes on them, virtually signalling the end of the road for those who were sidelined in the process. While trying to draw a fine line between ‘family raj’ and the allotment of tickets, Nadda pushed the onus on the election committee members keeping hopes alive of Monserrates and Lobos.
Nadda has gone about the job with a meaningful sense of purpose and his decision on leading the campaign comes at a time when the Opposition Congress is struggling to name its party leader and keep its motley pack of MLAs united. The leadership decision not only sends out a strong message within the party but also to an entire opposition which till now is unable to put a face to their campaigns.
Despite the Opposition parties consistently picking holes and amplifying the State-government failures, the BJP has made a decisive statement by putting Sawant in command. It remains to be seen whether forces within the BJP can reconcile to the announcements of Nadda and if the party can put up one united force ahead of the 2022 elections.
