PANAJI
It is not very often that the Congress beats the BJP in Goa, especially at paperwork.
The unusual delay on part of the BJP to announce it list of candidates cannot be blamed on astrology, as much the absence of the party’s talismanic shepherd, the late Manohar Parrikar, who had invariably played a key role in driving the right sheep into the right pen and manoeuvring the wrong sheep to the abattoir, without even letting them bleat.
As aspiring BJP candidates squirm in anticipation of the announcement of the party's official candidate list cleared by the party's apex authority, the parliamentary board, let us look at some of the constituencies, which have proved to be a thorn in the party's flesh. Flesh that has been unused to such torturous spells of indiscipline and indecisiveness in the bygone Parrikar era.
MANDREM
For former Chief Minister and educationist Laxmikant Parsekar, Dayanand Sopte is more like an errant pupil. While Parsekar has been steadfast in his commitment to the BJP, Sopte has been in and out of the saffron school as per his convenience.
But in an age where commitment has no political currency, Sopte leads the race for the Mandrem ticket. Tomorrow will tell whether the errant pupil can outwit the School Master of Mandrem.
CUMBHARJUA
Paralysis brooks no stopping when it comes to the pursuit of power. Former Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, despite his obvious physical disabilities claims he is still in the race for the party ticket. His opponent is Union Minister of State Shripad Naik's Siddhesh.
Siddesh once aspired to be a model, but is now well settled in his furniture business. Question is will he continue to just be a piece of furniture in the BJP set-up.
Considering the not-so-yahoo relationship between Shripad Naik and some of the party's core committee members, Siddhesh might even win this ticket. But will his detractors within the party let him win?
ST CRUZ
Anil Hoble has been around for far too long in the BJP to have not earned a seat in the state assembly. He also seems to have taken the phrase 'fall-guy' to far greater heights. Hoble is competing for a ticket with sitting MLA Antonio Fernandes, who is a self-professed (Atanasio) ‘Monserrate man’.
The chances of Hoble getting a ticket is linked to BJP's broader Tiswadi gameplan. If Monserrate fits in those plans, Hoble might have to hobble around in anonymity for some more years.
PANAJI
This is the battle royale by any and all standards. The aggressive contest for a ticket to the Panaji seat between Utpal Parrikar and Babush Monserrate might even render the subsequent election non-interesting.
The party with a difference will have to make a big decision here. Go the emotional way and pick the son of a man who ‘made’ the party or dump him in favour of a pragmatic choice and back a rape accused, who attacked a city police station and one who has a history so chequered that it looks largely black.
BICHOLIM
The dilemma over this particular constituency is a more recent one. After repeatedly sounding assured about a ticket for the upcoming polls, outgoing Speaker Rajesh Patnekar has suddenly sprung up a health reason, on account of which he claims, he does not want to contest.
While media reports suggest that MGP's Naresh Sawal and aspiring independent candidate Dr Chandrakant Shetye have declined BJP's offer to plug this gap, the sudden crisis appears to have paved the way for a new face.
It could be time for Shilpa Naik, a former Zilla Panchayat member, to come back from the ashes of anonymity and controversy.
CALANGUTE
The night is still young for Ricardo D'Souza, promoter of Club Titos. With sitting MLA Michael Lobo out of the picture now, Ricardo could make a move for the party's Calangute ticket.
His long-winded promises of free flats to residents of the constituency have already generated enough traction for the club boss. The BJP has also made much about the recent re-entry of former Calangute mandal president Gurudas Shirodkar coming back into the party fold.
He was last seen protesting against the statue of Cristiano Ronaldo in his village. And it is not because Shirodkar loves Lionel Messi. He just disliked Michael more.
SANVORDEM
Mining still hasn't revived the south Goa town yet. But the dust is yet to settle on who is likely to get the party ticket. Sitting MLA Deepak Prabhu Pauskar has proved to be a liability for the party, with even a BJP MLA targetting him for messing up the recruitment drive conducted by his ministry.
Pauskar is also not BJP's own man. Pauskar is bound to face the heat from former BJP MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, who is keen on making a comeback.
CANACONA
Goa's deep south constituency comes with its own share of deep intrigue. Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes has not been as aggressive as other aspirants for a ticket this time.
But he is not one to let another chance just skip by him. The other claimant Ramesh Tawadkar has bristled in anger in the past, after being denied an assembly ticket last time. But the operative part is that he was too easily placated by the party leadership.
MARGAO
There's something familiar with Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and duct tape. Wherever there's a tear, he comes, he sticks and mostly, he wins.
Ajgaonkar has won council polls in Margao and assembly elections from Pernem on Congress, MGP tickets. This time however, after he got enough hints from the party that he was unwanted in Pernem, he did not lose time to throw his hat in the Margao ring.
Dissent is rife in the BJP's Margao unit, which had led another aspirant Desh Prabhudesai to exit the race. Now, the BJP is all too keen for a patch of duct tape to cover up the rot on Digambar Kamat's home turf.
SALIGAO
Jayesh Salgaokar leads the race for the ticket here, but differences continue to simmer in the Saligao constituency, with supporters of former Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar still seething at the party's decision to sideline the former MLA.
SANGUEM
Sanguem also represents a challenge for the BJP, with deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar's wife Savitri keen on a ticket. BJP's Subhash Phaldesai may have warmed up under IFFI spotlight over the years, but the question is whether he will be able to plot Savitri out of the picture.
