Express News Service
BELAGAVI: The political developments in Goa have picked up tempo after the exit polls indicated a potential hung meeting.
Even as each the BJP and Congress are geared as much as poach one another’s legislators to realize the magic variety of 21 to type the federal government, it stays to be seen whether or not the BJP will resort to a different spherical of ‘Operation Lotus’ which it efficiently carried out to type its authorities in Karnataka and Goa after the earlier meeting elections within the respective states.
In the backdrop of exit polls giving each the BJP and Congress shut to fifteen to 17 seats within the 40-member Goa meeting, the political analysts in Goa really feel the position of regional events like MGP, AAP, Goa Forward, TMC moreover Independents is essential within the formation of the brand new authorities.
While the Congress management is assured that none of its MLAs would change sides within the occasion of a fractured final result, sources stated the sturdy hyperlinks of Panaji MLA (BJP) Atanasio Monsarrate (Babush) with the Congress leaders in Goa could come in useful for the BJP to poach not less than a couple of legislators from the grand previous get together. The similar Monserrate had spearheaded `Operation Lotus’ after the final meeting elections in Goa herding 10 Congress MLAs into BJP to assist the latter type a authorities.
Noted Congress MLA from Calangute, Michael Lobo stated, “Nobody will quit the Congress party. Let the BJP try any tactics also by using the ED and other agencies. We are all united and will not leave the party under any circumstances.” However, Lobo stated, the leaders from different events are in contact with the Congress and that none from MGP or the Independents additionally would be a part of the BJP because the latter had already backstabbed them.
He stated the Congress would type the federal government in Goa at 5 pm on March 10 and the BJP can be within the opposition.
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With the prediction of a hung meeting, the BJP’s central management is eager to have a post-poll alliance with MGP moreover poaching as many Independent candidates as potential.
According to sources, the BJP Central management is making an attempt for a potential post-poll alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which is more likely to win two to a few seats.
“Union Minister for Highways Nitin Gadkari’s good rapport with MGP may come in handy as the BJP is planning to take his help to get MGP’s support if the party falls short of a majority. With at least three to four Independents set to win from different seats, most of them and MGP may rally behind BJP as the party is in power at the Centre. The Congress may also win at least 15 seats but it may not be able to get the support of MGP or Independents,” says political analyst Suraj Nandrekar from Goa.
Senior journalist Kishor Naik Gaonkar stated the Congress get together could possibly type a authorities with the assistance of Goa Forward, TMC, and AAP provided that it manages to get very near the bulk mark of 21 seats. AAP, TMC, and Goa Forward could collectively win 4 to 5 seats if the predictions of native political analysts are to be believed.
Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated the BJP will get 18 to 22 seats to type a authorities in Goa. However, he went on so as to add that his get together would search the help of MGP if wanted. It means, the CM just isn’t 100% assured that his get together would achieve a majority by itself.
Suraj Nandrekar says the BJP could not proceed Pramod Sawant because the Chief Minister if the get together depends on the regional events or Independents to type a authorities. Sitting MLA Vishwajit Rane, a younger chief from the BJP could emerge as a consensus candidate for the CM’s place if the get together will get the help of Independents and regional events to type a authorities, he added.
Sources stated the sport of poaching of MLAs is imminent by each the BJP and Congress as soon as the outcomes are out on March 10. President of Goa Pradesh Congress Party (GPCC) Girish Chodankar stated, “baffled by the imminent defeat, the BJP in Goa hacked the phones of Congress leaders to find a way to come to power illegally again. The BJP misused power and snooped on Congress leaders including former CM Digambar Kamat.”
Calling the telephone tapping of the Congress leaders as a critical problem, Digambar Kamat stated, the BJP ought to cease resorting to such acts to return to energy.
