Goa polls: Regional parties may queer the pitch for Cong,BJP

The parties like the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP),Save Goa Front (SGF) and Goa Vikas Party (GVP) are warming up to each other for forging an alliance that might dent prospects of the Congress-NCP alliance.

“All regional parties will eat into Congress’s vote bank,but if BJP and MGP come together minorities will rally behind Congress making regional players almost defunct,” said Raju Nayak,editor of Marathi daily Lokmat.

The principal opposition party is finalising its alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

The regional political parties are consolidating their position in the aftermath of several of their patrons having crossed over to join the national parties to secure power pie for themselves.

Latest case in point is that of former tourism minister Miccky Pacheko,who resigned from NCP to join Goa Vikas Party (GVP),a small-time political outfit which came into existence one-and-a-half-decade back and never tasted success at the hustings.

Pacheko,who wields significant influence in Salcette taluka,is likely to cause headache for the Congress-NCP in this belt which has a sizable Catholic population. Pacheco’s close aide and party vice president Lyndon Monteiro told PTI that the GVP would be fielding candidates on all 40 seats,of which they have already shortlisted 33.

GVP has already initiated talks with UGDP and SGF,which are in the final stages.

Similarly,UGDP is a force to reckon with as far as election in Goa are concerned where even a couple of legislators can tilt the power frame in a scenario where political parties have to walk on egg shells to keep their flock together. UGDP in 2007 polls had won one seat.

UGDP legislator Atanasio Monserratte had won fromTaleigao constituency but later joined Congress to earn a ministerial berth.

The party which has a strong base in South Goa has been facing defections since last one decade. The party secretary general Anacleto Viegas told reporters this week that the UGDP is now looking to revive and fight with a fresh zeal.

Any dispensation of the regional parties might queer the pitch for ruling Congress-NCP alliance in the state,the political pundits feel. The alliance,gearing up to contest on all the 40 seats,has an edge over its rival BJP-MGP though it has to rein in the smaller parties.

Though Congress is still working out over a feasible seat-sharing formula with NCP,Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subhash Shirodkar has asserted that the alliance will materialise.

In the House of 40,now truncated to 37 following resignations of three MLAs–two of BJP and one of NCP—the Congress has 20 seats and BJP holds sway over 12 seats,followed by NCP and MGP which holds 2 seats each and one is Independent member.

With several issues like illegal mining,Regional Plan,medium of instruction,corruption etc at the forefront,the ensuing state legislative assembly elections would not be a cakewalk for any national party.