A foreign company whips up passions again

February 25: It's more or less a one-issue election here. But that has not made the candidates' job any easier. The two main contenders - Ch...

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February 25: It’s more or less a one-issue election here. But that has not made the candidates’ job any easier. The two main contenders – Chintamani Wanaga of the Sena-BJP alliance and Shankar Nam of the Cong-RPI-SP combine – are being forced to answer some uneasy questions about the government’s move to allow multinational company P&O build a port at Vadhavan in Dahanu, an issue which so completely dominates the campaigning here that all other questions have been pushed to the fringes.

In this tribal district, where P&O is being projected as a foreign power that is coming to usurp the local ecomony, it becomes important for every candidate to indulge in a little bit of P&O bashing – but a little restraint is advised, lest you put your foot in your mouth.

Though Wanaga, a senior BJP leader, speaks volumes about how thousands of fishermen would lose their livelihood if the port was constructed, he has not been able to convince his alliance partner, Shiv Sena, of the same.

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Chief Minister Manohar Joshihad recently made public his party’s inclination to give P&O the go-ahead for construction of the port. It was only after his deputy and state home minister Gopinath Munde intervened that the proposal was put on the hold. But, the differences remain. Wanaga has to be extremely careful while articulating his views on the issue, because he can’t ignore the fact that Shiv Sainiks too are campaigning for him. A word against Joshi or the Sena and he would be in deep trouble.

The Congress ranks too are divided on the issue. While senior party leader Sharad Pawar reiterated his support to the tribals’ cause at a rally recently, party corporators in Dahanu are conducting a signature campaign supporting the proposal to set up the port. The councillors have also roped in traders, builders and a section of farmers to lobby for P&O.

Environmentalist Dr Danesh Irani said the Congress was playing a double game and that it would harm its prospects in the election. Several locals too expressed similar sentiments. BJPworkers, naturally, are delighted. They say Wanaga will be benefited by the Congress workers’ support for the port.

Said a BJP worker from Dhakti Dahanu, also a representative of the fishermen, the Congress had displeased the locals by allowing the construction of a thermal power plant here. “However, opposition to the plant died down as the company was Indian. This time, they are supporting a multinational,” he added. But ask his colleagues about Shiv Sena’s stance on the issue and they ask you to get in touch with “senior leaders.” A non-committal comment like “if government wants to develop the area, it should construct a well-equipped fishing jetty,” is all you will get.

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Meanwhile, the one-lakh-odd fishermen in Vadhavan and other villages are questioning the candidates about their stand on the port issue. Earlier they had contemplated boycotting the polls. However, now a meeting of fishermen at Palghar will decide the future course of action. They might just vote en-block for the candidatetaking their side.