PANAJI
Facing visible anti-incumbency the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to give its quest for a victory in the 2022 Assembly a Narendra Modi boost by inviting the Prime Minister to the 60th Goa Liberation Day celebrations later in December.
The Pramod Sawant-led government is planning an elaborate celebration of Goa@60, for which the Centre had earmarked a Rs 300 crore fund in the Central budget.
The Prime Minister touring the State for the Liberation Day celebrations will also be one of his visits before the assembly elections due in February-March next year, a senior BJP leader said.
The leader said there is also a plan being prepared by the ruling party, which is facing tough times with some of its prominent leaders including Ports Minister Michael Lobo voicing dissent publicly, to ensure at least another visit by the Prime Minister before the Election Commission announces the schedule and enforces the Model Code of Conduct.
Events like the recent youth, panchayat and woman parliaments organised by the Goa government and the State legislature as part of the Goa@60 celebrations are also being utilised by the party to establish a connection with the masses ahead of the elections.
Goa is clubbed to go to the assembly polls alongwith four other States -- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur -- in February-March next year.
In power since 2012, the Sawant-led government is confronted by a palpable anti-incumbency sentiment and an energetic challenge from Opposition parties.
The party's leaders are on record that its central leadership is in talks for a pre-poll alliance with its estranged ally the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), whose leadership is playing hardball.
Also challenging the ruling party is the Congress, which is currently the principal Opposition party, and the energetic campaigns of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
The Goa Forward Party and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who have three and one MLAs in the current Assembly, are in talks with the Congress for a pre-poll alliance.
