A stronghold of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Mapusa was synonymous with the Lion’s roar until the Babush phenomenon reduced the roar to a whimper and BJP taking its place in the constituency.
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MAPUSA
The MGP leadership held sway in Mapusa for almost four decades until Francis D’Souza alias Babush pulled a coup of sorts and was elected on Goa Rajiv Congress platform in 1999.
From then on, there was no looking back for Babush who soon joined BJP and has been repeatedly getting elected in the constituency.
MGP’s loss was BJP’s gain as all the workers who swore by MGP slowly began to drift towards the saffron party.
With MGP and BJP parting ways for the 2017 assembly polls, the question on everyone’s mind is whether MGP will be able to restore its past glory.
Former MGP leader and three-time Mapusa MLA, Surendra Sirsat feels that the situation is ripe for MGP to make a comeback in Mapusa.
“There are people who are traditionally with MGP. The old guard still swear by the party and will do anything to restore the party its pride of place,” said Sirsat, who was once the Speaker in the Assembly. “Secondly, the tie-up with Goa Suraksha Manch can also play a crucial role in the party’s success,” he added.
According to Sirsat, a large chunk of RSS votes and their sympathizers can swing towards the alliance candidate, leading to a surprise result in Mapusa. “The incumbency factor against the current MLA can also work in favour of MGP,” he said.
Raghunath Tople was the first MLA elected from Mapusa on the Lion’s symbol in 1963 (first election after Liberation). Later in all subsequent elections – 1967 (Gopalrao Mayenkar), 1972 (Raghuvir Pankar), Surendra Sirsat (1977), Chandrashekar Diukar (1984) and Surendra Sirsat (1989 & 1994) – were elected on MGP ticket with a brief interlude in 1980 when Shyamsunder Neogi was elected as Congress (U) nominee.
“MGP can regain its past glory provided all disintegrated groups and individuals come together irrespective of any affiliation and with only one aim – to win,” said Mahesh Rane, a MGP stalwart and its former MGP youth president.
He was optimistic that MGP had enough chance to make a comeback in Mapusa. “MGP voters have all shifted to BJP. Now, if they think that MGP has a chance to win then those voters can come back to MGP,” he added.
MGP to unveil Mapusa poll campaign today
MAPUSA: MGP will kick-off its election campaign in Mapusa by opening its election office on January 13 at Garden Centre, Mapusa.
“Senior MGP leader and former PWD minister, Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar will inaugurate the Mapusa office in the presence of party’s Mapusa candidate, Vinod (Balu) Phadke,” said Bharat Toraskar, MGP Block President in Mapusa.
On the occasion, the candidate and MGP workers will launch the election campaign by seeking blessings from various Devasthans in Mapusa.
As per the MGP-GSM-Sena alliance, out of seven constituencies in Bardez, MGP will contest in Mapusa, Aldona, Calangute and Porvorim, while GSM is expected to contest in Siolim. Shiv Sena will contest from Saligao and Tivim.
In 2012 assembly election, MGP did not field any candidate in Mapusa since it contested the election in alliance with BJP.
