The small coastal state of Goa is among the five states that go to assembly polls beginning next month. Electors in Goa are scheduled to vote on February 14 to elect a new 40-member assembly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won lesser seats than the Congress in 2017 elections but it was able to form the government in Goa. After the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar in March 2019, the BJP entrusted the reins of power to Dr Pramod Sawant who has steered the government since then.
The entry of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the political scene has slightly complicated the picture in Goa where elections have historically been bipolar and determined by local issues. Goa will pose an important electoral test for the TMC who is nursing national ambition after an impressive victory in West Bengal.
An interesting poll duel seems to be on cards in Goa in Rane versus Rane. Veteran leader Pratapsingh Rane’s moves are under watch as the coastal state prepares for the forthcoming assembly polls. He is 11-time MLA and 6-time chief minister apart from being Goa’s senior most legislator. Pratapsingh Rane’s Congress party has witnessed desertions recently. In an interesting move, the state government granted the “life-long Cabinet minister status’’ to Pratapsingh Rane for completing 50 years as MLA.
His son Vishwajit first won the assembly seat of Valpoi in 2007 as a Congress candidate. He won two other elections from the constituency but was cut up at his party for not being able to form the government in 2017 and switched over to the BJP and also won the Valpoi seat in the byelection on the nomination of the BJP. He had earlier served as Health Minister in the Congress government in 2007 and has been entrusted the same portfolio in the BJP since 2017.
Vishwajit Rane’s recent announcement of contesting from the Poriem seat held by his father kicked up a stir. He wants his father to retire gracefully after completing 50 years as a legislator. How things roll up in this scenario will be interesting to watch. Will Rane versus Rane come up as the most awaited poll duel? Only the coming days will unravel it.
Talking about issues that are likely to dominate the political discourse in the coming assembly polls in Goa, Prof. Subhash Jan said in about a dozen pockets the dominant factor will be the personality and influence of the candidate in his or her individual capacity. According to him, unemployment remains an important issue but gave full points to the BJP government in management of Covid pandemic, encouraging start-ups and taking up infrastructure projects in the coastal state.
There are parties like Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), a powerful regional voice which has been in the political scenario of Goa for a very long time and Goa Forward Party (GFP) which may swing the scales in some of the assembly segments. The main opposition party, Congress, appears to be lacking in focus and energy to pose a worthwhile challenge to the ruling BJP. There are nearly 11 lakh electors in Goa who will decide the fate of candidates in the coming assembly polls. With a traditionally high percentage of turnout of voters, Goa is likely to see an interesting political tussle ahead.