Being the ruling party, the BJP is already in election mode for the last year. With the appointment of Devendra Fadnavis, who successfully led the party’s campaign in Bihar, they seem to be BATTLE READY.
Fadnavis has made no bones about the criteria for granting tickets, just one point – WINNABILITY.
The critical issue for BJP is whether they would give the tickets to the leaders who have lost elections; this includes former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar from Mandrem, former WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar from Siolim or the former Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar.
In Mandrem, BJP already has a sitting MLA, Dayanand Sopte, who defeated Parsekar on a Congress ticket in 2017. However, he switched over to BJP the same year and fought by-election successfully on the BJP symbol.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
There is no denying that despite the public outrage protests and the anti-incumbency factor, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, be it the 2017 Assembly polls, the Zilla elections or municipal elections earlier this year.
It would not be wrong to say the saffron brigade still has the upper hand over their nearest rivals – the Congress, which is now up from deep slumber and still completing notebooks ahead of Board exams, and seems confused about the syllabus.
With several other parties like the Congress party, Aam Aadmi Party, which has been the primary challengers for BJP of late, the Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party, Goa Forward Party, Revolutionary Goans, it is only going to make the BJP work easier to gain victory unless opposition stitch an alliance.
Being the ruling party, the BJP is already in election mode for the last year. With the appointment of Devendra Fadnavis, who successfully led the party’s campaign in Bihar, they seem to be BATTLE READY.
Fadnavis has made no bones about the criteria for granting tickets, just one point – WINNABILITY.
The critical issue for BJP is whether they would give the tickets to the leaders who have lost elections; this includes former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar from Mandrem, former WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar from Siolim or the former Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar.
In Mandrem, BJP already has a sitting MLA, Dayanand Sopte, who defeated Parsekar on a Congress ticket in 2017. However, he switched over to BJP the same year and fought by-election successfully on the BJP symbol.
Considering his popularity, it would be difficult for BJP to give a ticket to Parsekar. However, the ground of reality in Mandrem differs; the winds of change are blowing on Parsekar’s side, and if he is denied a ticket, he could even win independent or dent Sopte’s prospects.
Similarly, in Siolim, Minister Michael Lobo wants to field his wife Delilah Lobo from the constituency. Sources say if the BJP denies him a ticket, he has his options open. As he said, he has been approached by many parties. While Mandrekar lost to present incumbent Vinod Palyekar, it is still unknown whether Palyekar intends to contest polls in 2022 or if he does on which party ticket?
As of now, the Lobo fever is all over Siolim as he has been splurging money and freebies to the people of the constituency. Mandrekar, who had the upper hand till now, suddenly seems worried. He has made his sentiments known to party high command and the CM that a BJP minister is interfering in his constituency.
The third headache for BJP is the Saligao constituency, where former Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar is staking his claim for party ticket again after losing to Goa Forward’s Jayesh Salgaocar in 2017.
However, the Catch is that Jayesh himself wants to join BJP from GFP and has been having several rounds of talks with CM and BJP bigwigs.
Parulekar, on the other hand, claims he has enough support to defeat Jayesh in 2022.
Several other BJP leaders like Kedar Naik, Rupesh Naik etc., are also vying for the party ticket, making the Saligao decision even more complicated.
BJP depends massively on heavyweights…
While the BJP still enjoys the upper hand in Goan politics for 2022 elections, their confidence is based on just three to four leaders or MLAs.
While the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant himself, is unsure of winning his seat, four leaders who can pull the BJP out of the trouble are Panaji MLA Babush Monseratte Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and the Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar.
Monseratte, or the King of Tiswadi as he is known now if he decides to stay with the BJP for 2022, can single-handedly win all five seats in the taluka that of – Panaji (himself), Taleigao (wife, Jennifer), St Andre (his personal assistant Agnelo), St Andre (Francis Silveira) and Cumbharjua (Siddesh Naik or Pandurang Madkaikar).
Similarly, if he stays with BJP, Rane – or the Prince of Sattari, can win Valpoi (himself or wife, Poeriem (himself, wife or father), Mayem, Bicholim and play a significant role in CM’s victory in Sankhalim. Needless to say, it would be difficult to win for CM without Rane’s support as CM lost his own municipality in recently held polls.
Third would be Lobo, who is emerging as the king of Bardez. Lobo is still unsure whether he would stay with BJP or not. He has made no bones about it and has also spoken to High Command if his wife is not given a ticket in Siolim, he may rethink contesting the BJP ticket. Lobo proved his power in 2017 itself when he played a major role in defeating his own party leaders, Dilip Parulekar and Dayanand Mandrekar.
If given a chance, Lobo can win Calangute, Siolim, Saligao, Mapusa easily. He also enjoys tremendous influence in Porvorim, Thivim and Aldona.
The fourth one would be Dy CM Babu Kavlekar, one imported MLA confirmed to stay with BJP. He, too, is demanding a ticket for his wife from Sanguem.
He can play an influential role for BJP in Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona and Cuncolim.
Overall, it is the BIG FOUR; if BJP can retain them and give liberty to work, they can retain the power.
