An interesting aspect of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's visit to Goa was the sight of various political players making a beeline to meet the charismatic leader on the pretext of a courtesy call. The Goa Forward Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Independents and other leaders have engaged in political discussion with the TMC leadership at various levels.
Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardessai has hailed Mamata as a symbol of regional pride and called upon all regional parties in Goa to come together to avoid a division of votes that could benefit the BJP. The question is if protecting regional interest is a priority, why are these parties not going into a huddle? Barely a week before Sardessai’s meeting with Mamata, the Goa Forward Party came close to a decision on joining her party, only to pull out at the eleventh hour. There has been news of MGP getting closer to the Aam Aadmi Party and later retracting. What we haven't heard is a unity of those talking about regionalism, Goemkarponn, and the identity of Goa. What is happening is a picture of sharp contrast. While parties are singing the regional tune, they have been hobnobbing with national parties to leverage their political standing.
Politics is no longer based on ideologies, and we have seen this in the past. Parties with contrasting appeals, agendas and manifestos have come together with the sole purpose of having a share of power. Two regional forces -- Goa Forward and MGP joined hands with BJP to form the government overriding all other differences and backgrounds, including a bitter campaign rivalry, on the sole premise of development. MGP continues to be in two minds on forging a pre-poll alliance with BJP, repeatedly equating it to suicide for the third time.
Goa has a fair count of regional players. Besides Goa Forward and MGP, there is United Goans Democratic Party (whose president has recently switched over to TMC), Goa Suraksha Manch, Goa Praja Party, besides the Goa Revolutionary Party. Those upholding regional politics must get their act right rather than showing desperation in forging alliances with national parties like Congress. The grand old party, which has been slammed over leadership issues and internal divisions, continues to be pressured by the GFP and the NCP on tie-ups. Mamata has also stated that any Congress delay will benefit Narendra Modi.
TMC's victory in Bengal should be undoubtedly the benchmark for regional parties. Mamata showed the spine to single-handedly fight the saffron onslaught led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team of Union ministers. In Goa, regional forces lack that confidence and credibility. They have preferred to piggy-ride bigger national players with an objective of remaining relevant to the post-electoral equation.
Hence, Goa's politics has a very disagreeable regional flavour where the often preached commingling of identity and development remains a myth. Going by recent political equations, there are no strong reasons to believe that regionalism will help Goa and Goemkarponn. Regional forces must stop their duplicity and refrain from misleading the gullible voter.
