PANJIM: The general elections for the Zilla Panchayat (ZPs)-with total 50 seats- likely to be held in December- is going to be a litmus test for Dr Pramod Sawant led BJP government, which is currently facing public wrath- right from North to South Goa- over several anti-people policies and projects that the government intends to impose in the State.
The voting for the two Zilla Panchayats, having 25 seats each, initially scheduled to be held on March 22, was deferred indefinitely due to COVID-19 outbreak. Until then, it had been a smooth sailing for Sawant. However, past two-months- there has been public hue and cry with the government turning its blind eye.
There have been rising voices of the people against projects namely Railway Double Tracking, Laying of Power Transmission Line and Expansion of National Highway passing through Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park. While the Save Mollem issue has dominated in South, in North-Sattari Taluka- hundreds to Shel-Melauli villagers are protesting against the proposed IIT project.
Also, the anti-Marina protagonists have once again raised their voice against the proposed Marina project at Nauxim village in St Andre.
While North and South remained divided on these projects- the whole of Goa stands united against BJP’s failure to protect State’s interest on Mhadei river diversion.
“Though, Sawant government enjoys complete majority in the 40-member State Assembly, the growing uproar against the government, off late, cannot be ignored. It is something that the BJP is worried about,” a political observer said.
There is also growing distress within the BJP camp. While some senior BJP core members want the government to bow down to public pressure, with focus on 2022 polls, the Chief Minister and the party president Sadanand Tanavade are hell bent to go ahead with the projects.
Former party president and MP Vinay Tendulkar, Minister Michael Lobo, MLA Alina Saldanha, have already raised their concern over anti-people projects.
“There are growing differences within the BJP camp due to these projects. CM and the President is not ready to listen since they are under pressure from high command. But the situation is not in favor of BJP in Goa,” sources said.