Hour of reckoning

PANAJI, January 19: Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane is under pressure as Congress approaches the Lok Sabha polls in the hope of regainin...

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PANAJI, January 19: Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane is under pressure as Congress approaches the Lok Sabha polls in the hope of regaining the two seats which it lost last time.

Goa sends only two representatives to the Lok Sabha thus a victory or defeat may not make much difference to the fortunes of Congress . However, in the political context, the outcome of the February 28 polls will be crucial for important players in the Pradesh Congress party.

Political observers here speculate that a handsome electoral recovery by Congress in the election could help Rane strengthen his position in the party. On the other hand, a reverse of the type faced by the party in the last elections could most certainly lead to renewed tussle for party leadership. State Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred D’Souza who is harbouring the ambition of replacing Rane has openly opposed the party choice of former Chief Minister Ravi Naik for North Goa seat.

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Already, opposition to Naik’s candidature has surfaced in the open and there are reports in party circles that the disgruntled Rane opponents are sure to play a double role for defeating official Congress nominees. This will be an encore of the last elections when they worked hard against the official candidates to avenge the “dethroning” of D’Souza ministry by Ravi Naik in 1991 with the help of the then State Governor Bhanu Prakash Singh.

The State Election Committee of the Congress has recommended Ravi Naik for North Goa and dormer Minister Fransisco Sardinha for South Goa. The Committee’s choice is still to be endorsed by the party high command.

However, the observers here agree that if the “winnability” was the main determinant, the Congress could not offer a better choice to match the electoral clout Ramakant Khalap, Minister for Law and Justice in North and Churchil Alemao, member of the dissolved Lok Sabha in South Goa.

Meanwhile, there is decline in activity on the poll front and the absence of usual excitement is noted by all. On the campaign front, United Goans Democratic Party of Churchil Alemao is the only one to have begun the task of wooing the voters by holding public meetings. Sonia Gandhi’s visit on Sunday infused some life in the otherwise dull poll scene. Congressmen are confident the visit will help to boost the party’s poll prospects in the State. But others differ.

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The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party of Khalap and the BJP are yet to start their campaigns seriously in the State. The MGP is yet to decide on its candidate for South Goa as former Chief Minister Shashikala Kakodkar has said “no” to the party offer. Opposition Leader Dr Kashinath Jhalmi is also said to be reluctant because last time he was starved of party funds for campaigning. Interestingly, there are reports that Shiv Sena may prefer to back Khalap instead of the BJP nominee in North Goa.

In terms of hard assessment of the electoral changes, it seems certain that the Congress will be battling it out in practically straight fights with the two regional players – MGP in North Goa and UGDP in South Goa. But poll watchers are still not prepared to give a clear edge to anybody unless the early campaigning trends are known.

According to Goa’s Chief Electoral Office Vivek Rao the voter strength in the State has risen from 8,68,138 in 1996 to 8,79,307 strength in the State has risen from 8,68,138 in 1996 to 8,79,307 representing an addition of 11,000 voters in the two constituencies this time, the total cost of elections to the two seats in Goa is expected to come to Rs. 1.10 crore.