Salcete getting no representation in the Cabinet has been a talking point ever since the last three slots were filled in the Pramod Sawant-led government on Saturday. Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo was left out while Sudin Dhavalikar, Nilkant Halarnkar and Subhash Phaldessai found favour in the end.
Except for the fact that there is no women representation, the cabinet otherwise appears to be a fair mix of communities and representatives. Call it purely coincidental or out of political compulsions, the BJP leadership has appeased all communities and tick-marked the right boxes keeping party interests at the back of the mind. Denying Reginaldo a berth, roping in Phaldesai who was already sworn in as deputy speaker, and the wildcard entry of Halarnkar whose name was initially not in the reckoning, the final list of three ministers had an element of surprise.
While the cabinet is now complete, a month after election results were declared, the selection has thrown open some interesting questions. Why did the BJP settle for Dhavalikar, despite a fierce pre-poll rivalry and the strong opposition to his candidature in BJP ranks? Why did Reginaldo fall out of the race, after being in the forefront ever since he extended his support to the BJP?
If we may recall, Dhavalikar had been spewing venom on the BJP and had even equated associating with it as “strangulating oneself to death” and “committing political suicide”. The election campaign saw a heated war of words between the two parties with ideological similarities notwithstanding. Post-election, it turned out to be ‘love at first sight of power’ for the MGP, with Dhavalikar instantly offering unconditional support to the BJP, understanding well that that's the lone option available to grab power.
The BJP, on the flip side, has decided to put the past behind and move forward with an eye on crucial Lok Sabha elections in 2024, and the selection of cabinet ministers shows BJP’s strategic plan. It has given full representation to Ponda taluka with all the four elected representatives getting cabinet berths and has focussed on hinterland areas of Sanvordem, Sanguem, Curchorem and even Canacona. The emphasis on the mining belt and the hinterland areas is with a mind to offset the expected losses in Salcete.
The BJP has well understood that no further experiments on the lines of Mission Salcete are going to help the party’s cause in 2024 given the resentment it is facing there and has consciously decided to be content with its vote-share in Salcete. Hence, it makes perfect sense for them to let Salcete go on autopilot mode and strengthen areas of Sanvordem, Sanguem, Curchorem, Ponda and Canacona to offset the electoral damage.
The BJP has realised that rewarding Reginaldo with a Cabinet berth is not going to give them dividends at the Lok Sabha elections in minority-dominated Curtorim or any other constituency in Salcete. It's this bitter reality that the Curtorim MLA will have to reconcile with.
