Assembly polls 2017: Why regional parties may reclaim lost ground in Goa

Goa is so much more than just beaches! Considered an ideal holiday destination, no one takes the state seriously when it comes to politics. But Goa is the only state after Kerala to chose a different political path, especially during the 1960s when the Congress party dominated the Indian political discourse.

It is the second state to elect a non-Congress government in 1963 after EMS Namboodiripad’s CPI managed a victory in Kerala in 1957. But if we do not consider CPI a regional party, then Goa probably was the first state to bring a truly regional party — Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) — to power.

The MGP government was ousted in 1979 following major defections (allegedly orchestrated by the Congress). The party was originally formed with a mission to merge Goa with Maharashtra, but an opinion poll conducted by the MGP government went against it. Following the rejection, the MGP has restricted its focus to regional politcs.

Ironically, when the MGP formed an alliance with the BJP in the 1990s, it started losing its hold over state politics. Slowly, the BJP, led by Manohar Parrikar, ate into the MGP’s territory. Eventually, Goa too saw the dominance of bipolar politics with the Congress and the BJP as the main players.

However, it's also true that the diminishing influence of regional parties in Goa brought stability to the state which was earlier fraught with politics of defections and unstable governments. But along the way, Goa also lost its identity as a state where regional politics took roots.

The forthcoming elections will be an interesting one mainly because of three reasons. For the first time in many years, there will be a multi-cornered fight in Goa with the Congress, the BJP and a host of smaller parties and their alliances in the fray.

Secondly, after its stunning victory in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) popularity will be put to test in Goa.

Trying hard to expand its national footprint, it has been concentrating on smaller states like Goa. According to party's co-convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Congress is not even a factor in the forthcoming polls. He has urged the people of Goa not to split the votes by casting their ballot to the Congress because that would only help the BJP come back to power.

The Congress, on the other hand, is facing a leadership crisis in the state with many top leaders already having served as CM in the past. Essentially, there is no undisputed leader in the party. For the AAP, it will be easier to beat the Congress in Goa than to take on the might of the BJP, which enjoys a bigger support base in Goa — thanks to former CM Manohar Parrikar and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

But the saffron party may face challenge from Subhash Velingkar, former RSS Goa chief, who was sacked on allegations of "working against" the BJP. A rift appeared between a section of  the RSS led by Velingkar over grant of funds to convent schools in the state. While chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar decided to continue with the grant to English-medium primary schools, Velingkar opposed the decision insisting that the funds should only be granted to schools with Konkani and Marathi as the medium of education.

Velingkar, who has already floated a new political outfit — Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) — has found a friend in the Shiv Sena, which is trying its luck outside Maharashtra for the first time. Itching to teach the BJP a lesson, the Shiv Sena has joined hands with the MGP to form a formidable alliance against the saffron party in Goa. Velingkar's GSM wants to push forward its regional agenda with the help of the MGP and the Shiv Sena.

If this combination manages to topple the BJP in the coming elections, it may indeed be a new dawn for regional politics in Goa.

Also read: How Assembly elections 2017 will change the way India votes in 2019