News Analysis India

Tag: Goa Elections

  • Congress in more mess? Three days over since Goa poll results, party yet to decide its legislature leader

    By PTI

    PANAJI: The Congress in Goa is yet to take a decision on its legislature party leader, even after three days of the announcement of the state Assembly election results.

    According to sources, the Goa Congress unit has not held a single meeting after it failed to reach the majority mark of 21 in the 40-member Assembly.

    The Congress got 11 seats, its ally Goa Forward Party (GFP) secured one seat, while the BJP bagged 20 seats.

    Earlier, a senior Congress leader had said the Congress-GFP alliance will name its leader immediately after the election results are out.

    However, talking to PTI on Sunday, a Congress leader on condition of anonymity said, We are yet to get any invitation for a meeting after the counting.”

    Congress MLA-elect Michael Lobo said a decision on the legislature party leader would be taken “at the right time”.

    The Congress will have to inform the Assembly about their leader when the session is called for a confidence vote for the chief minister,’ he said.

    While Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar was not available for comments, another senior party leader claimed the elected members were divided between Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo as their leader.

    Lobo denied lobbying for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

    I am not lobbying for any post. If the party high command gives me the responsibility, I am ready to accept it, he said.

    Former CM Kamat was elected from Margao Assembly segment, while Lobo won from Calangute seat.

    Lobo, a former BJP minister, quit the saffron party and joined the Congress in January this year, before the elections were held last month.

  • Day after poll results, Goa cabinet decides to recommend dissolution of Assembly on March 14

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, whose party BJP has won 20 out of 40 seats in the state assembly polls, on Friday held a meeting of his cabinet, during which it was decided to recommend dissolution of the House on March 14.

    State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told this to reporters after the cabinet meeting. “We met to thank the people for a resounding victory of the party. During the meeting, a resolution was moved to thank the people of the state. The meeting chaired by CM Sawant decided to recommend to the state governor dissolution of the House on Monday,” he said.

    The tenure of the present assembly is scheduled to end on 15 March. Talking to reporters after the meeting, state Revenue Minister Jeniffer Monserratte said the cabinet will also be dissolved on Monday.

    Overcoming anti-incumbency, the BJP on Thursday emerged as the single largest party in the coastal state by winning 20 assembly seats, just one shy of the halfway mark, and quickly enlisted the support of regional outfit Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independent MLAs to form its government for a third consecutive term.

    The party is yet to stake claim to form the government. Its central observers are expected to arrive in Goa on Friday, after which the new legislature wing will meet to decide its leader.

    BJP’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadanavis had told reporters last evening that the decision on leadership and timing of swearing-in of the new cabinet will be decided by the party’s parliamentary committee.

  • Goa polls: Congress decides to act swiftly to stake claim for government formation

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Congress veteran P Chidambaram held a meeting with the Goa Assembly poll candidates of his party and those of ally GFP on Wednesday night, where it was decided that the alliance will name its leader immediately after the election results are out and stake claim for government formation, sources said.

    The decision is meant to avoid a repeat of the 2017 fiasco when the Congress had failed to form a government in Goa despite scoring the maximum number of seats.

    Polling for the 40-member House was held on February 14 and the counting of votes will be taken up on Thursday.

    Most exit polls have predicted a hung House in the tiny coastal state, leading the political parties to formulate their strategies keeping in mind different post-result scenarios.

    The Congress had contested the election on 37 seats, while ally Goa Forward Party (GFP) had fielded three candidates.

    The Congress, which had kept its candidates in a luxury hotel at Bambolim near Panaji in North Goa since Tuesday evening, shifted them to another resort in Margao town on Wednesday evening.

    This resort is owned by one of the party candidates.

    Sources said that Chidambaram, who is Congress’s Goa election in-charge, held a meeting with the candidates of the Congress and the GFP, which was also attended by Karnataka Congress president D K Shivkumar, who is currently camping in Goa.

    During the meeting, it was decided to elect the leader of the group immediately after the results are out and stake claim to form the government with state Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai.

    “The appointment with the governor would be sought immediately after the results are declared. We don’t want to commit the mistakes that happened after the 2017 election results,” a senior party office-bearer said.

    Talking to reporters, Shivkumar said that all the candidates are together and there is no worry of any split.

    “BJP is known for its habit of poaching. That is why we have asked all our candidates to stay in a common hotel,” he said.

    In 2017, despite winning 17 seats, the Congress could not come to power as the BJP, which had bagged 13 seats, allied with some independents and regional parties to form the government under the leadership of its stalwart Manohar Parrikar.

    The BJP eyes a third consecutive term in office.

  • ‘Open to post-poll alliance with non-BJP parties’: Congress extends olive braches to AAP, Trinamool ahead of Goa results

    By PTI

    PANAJI: With the date for the Goa Assembly poll results nearing, the Congress has said it is open to a post-poll alliance with parties other than the BJP to form the next government, if it does not get a majority on its own.

    Elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly were held on February 14 and the results would be declared on March 10.

    Talking to reporters on Sunday, All India Congress Committee’s Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said if his party falls short of the majority mark of 21, it is open to seeking the support of outfits like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to form government.

    The Congress had contested the election in alliance with the Goa Forward Party.

    Besides, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC had tied-up with the MGP, Goa’s oldest regional outfit, before the polls.

    Rao said after the final result is out, the Congress Legislature Party will waste no time in electing its leader.

    If the Congress gets majority, “we will stake claim to form government the same day”, he said.

    The Congress had won 17 seats in the 2017 state Assembly elections, while the BJP bagged 13.

    But, the saffron party formed government by quickly forging an alliance with some other parties and independents.

    Over the last five years, a number of Congress MLAs quit the party and its strength in the House was reduced to two.

  • Congress will form next government in Goa, says Michael Lobo

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Congress leader and former Goa minister Michael Lobo on Thursday expressed confidence that the party will form the government in the state by dislodging the BJP after the Assembly poll results come out on March 10, and dismissed speculations that the Sonia Gandhi-led party will split in the coastal state.

    Addressing a press conference in the presence of Leader of Opposition Digmbar Kamat and Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar, Lobo also dismissed rumours that the top BJP leadership was in touch with him to switch over after the results next week.

    “If the results are out by 3 pm on March 10, the Congress will form the government by 5 pm,” he claimed.

    Lobo, who joined the Congress in January this year after quitting the BJP-led state cabinet, said the people of Goa knew who was making false claims about him.

    “Don’t fall prey to such rumors. Nobody will leave the Congress. Let the BJP try pressure tactics also by using the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies. We all are united and will not leave the Congress,” he asserted.

    Lobo said the Congress will provide a stable government in the state.

    “The BJP will be in the opposition and we are confident about it,” he said.

    Lobo claimed leaders of other parties in the state were in touch with the Congress.

    “They are not interested in supporting the BJP. Not a single independent MLA or the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party will go near the BJP, as it back-stabbed the MGP. Nobody trusts them now,” Lobo claimed.

    The Congress leader said on March 10, the people of the state would be happy after “liberation from the BJP”.

    After the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, the Congress had emerged as the single party by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House.

    However, the BJP, which bagged 13 seats, then quickly tied-up with some regional outfits, including the MGP, and independents to form government.

    Over the last five years, several Congress leaders quit the party and its strength in the Assembly was reduced to two.

    Polls to elect the new state Assembly were held on February 14 this year and the counting of votes would be done on March 10.

  • Goa Trinamool chief claims Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC abandoned party candidates after polls

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Kiran Kandolkar has claimed that their political consultant I-PAC abandoned the party candidates after the state Assembly polls held last week.

    Talking to reporters here on Monday, Kandolkar also said he was not quitting as TMC’s Goa unit chief, but was upset with I-PAC head Prashant Kishor and his team.

    There have been speculations since some time about a rift between the TMC and I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee), which had helped the Mamata Banerjee-led party during the West Bengal Assembly polls.

    The TMC contested the Goa Assembly elections in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

    Polling was held on February 14 and the counting of votes will be done on March 10.

    Kandolkar had contested the election from Aldona Assembly seat, while his wife Kavita contested from Thivim on TMC’s ticket.

    He claimed that most of the TMC candidates in Goa felt they were abandoned by the I-PAC after the polls.

    “All candidates fielded by the TMC have some or the other issues with the I-PAC. When the candidates told me about their issues with Prashant Kishor and his I-PAC team, I discussed the matter with my party workers, who advised me to quit as the TMC Goa president,” he said.

    “I am not quitting as TMC Goa head, but I am upset with Prashant Kishor and the I-PAC team,” he said.

    A meeting of all party candidates has been called on Tuesday to discuss the polling in their respective Assembly constituencies, he added.

  • Goa reports 78.94 per cent polling, the final number may cross 80 per cent

    Express News Service

    Goa has reported tentative 78.94 per cent polling on all 40 seats of Goa state assembly elections on Monday.

    The highest 89.64 per cent voting has been reported in the Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s constituency Sanquelim while the lowest 70.02 per cent in the Benaulim constituency in Goa. The North has reported 79.84 % polling while 78.15 % polling in South Goa.

    In the previous 2017 Goa state assembly elections, a total of 81.21 per cent voting was reported against 78.94 per cent this year.  

    The Goa police also seized Rs 6.66 crore cash during Goa elections while Rs 12 crore worth of gold, liquor, drugs etc seized.

    Goa chief election officer Kunal said that the 78.94 % polling figure is tentative and it will change once they received the authentic data from the returning officers. He said that the present voting percentage is obtained by phone calls and another medium, therefore, the final polling percentage may cross 80 per cent once the final tally is done. “The postal ballot has not been counted in the total polling percentage therefore the final tally of polling is likely to go up crossing 80 per cent,” Kunal said.

    He said that the election in Goa was peaceful and successful with the support o the people, political parties and media. The 11.64 Lakh people were eligible for votes while the Vasco Da Gama was the biggest voters having constituency while smallest Margo.

    The election commission has also attached the GPS to EVM carrying vehicles for better monitoring the vehicles. Besides, 31 cases of social media violation were reported where the 30 objectionable posts were deleted later.

    “It was peaceful elections. No major untoward incident was reported, only some minor disputes were reported. The three FIR were registered related to model code of conduct violations. The immediate action was taken by the police as well,” said a senior police officer.

    “We took prevention actions against 700 history-sheeters and anti-social elements. The 5000 Goa police were deployed during the polling. A person was taken photographs of his vote while casting his vote at the polling booth. He posted this EVM picture on his social media account. After that incident, we asked the voters, not to take their mobile phones with them while casting the vote. The secrecy of voting is paramount and need to maintain,” said a police officer.

  • Rahul Gandhi woos voters in Goa’s mining belt with promise to resume stalled industry

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the iron ore mining in Goa will be resumed as soon as his party comes to power in the state after the Assembly elections.

    He was speaking at a public meeting in Curchorem constituency in South Goa district, a part of the mining belt.

    “Congress will restart the mining industry as soon as the party forms government,” Gandhi said, campaigning ahead of the February 14 elections.

    He questioned the seriousness of the ruling BJP’s assurance that mining will be resumed within six months.

    “BJP leaders say that they will resume mining. Then why didn’t they do it in the last five years?” he asked.

    Gandhi also said that all projects which are detrimental to the coastal state’s interests will be scrapped, including three projects which would affect the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary.

    The Congress leader also blamed the BJP for `rampant unemployment’ in the state, claiming that the policies of the Union government affected the small and medium industries, leading to this situation.

    “Everyone should get justice. Hence we have decided to restart mining to create employment and give justice to those dependent on mining for livelihood,” he said.

    Mining in Goa came to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court set aside mining leases for various illegalities.

    The state used to earn a revenue of around Rs 1,000 crore a year from the industry.

  • PM Narendra Modi distracting people of Goa from real issues: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of distracting the attention of people of Goa from real issues like environment and employment.

    Criticising Modi over his statement that if Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted, Goa could have been liberated “within hours” in 1947 when India attained independence, Gandhi said the prime minister does not understand the situation of those times and what was happening post-World War II.

    Addressing a press conference in Margao, around 35 kms from here, Gandhi expressed confidence that the Congress will win majority of seats in the February 14 Goa assembly elections and there won’t be any need for post-poll alliances.

    “Modi has come to Goa because he wants to distract Goa from real issues like employment, environment…Did he speak anything about environment and employment? BJP’s manifesto has no word about environment,” Gandhi said.

    The prime minister should tell Goans what they have done for creating employment in the state and for tourism industry and environment. Modi, while addressing an election rally at Mapusa near here on Thursday, had slammed the Congress, saying its government took 15 years to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule.

    Targeting him over the remarks, Gandhi said, “Freedom fighters have commented on this issue. Academics have spoken about it. The sad fact is that the PM does not understand the history of those times. He does not understand what was going on post-World War II. He is coming to Goa to distract people from the real issues like environment and employment.”

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    Gandhi also alleged that the BJP came to power in Goa and ruled it for the last five years by stealing the mandate given to the Congress by the people. “Congress will get full majority in Goa and there will be no question of any alliances. Congress will act immediately to ensure we have a government in Goa,” he said.

    In the 2017 elections, the Congress had emerged as the single-largest party in Goa by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House, but could not come to power as the BJP, which bagged 13, acted swiftly and allied with some independents and regional parties to form the government under Manohar Parrikar, who died in 2019.

    This time, the Congress is contesting the election in alliance with the Goa Forward Party (GFP). While the Congress has fielded 37 candidates, the GFP has given tickets to three. Gandhi, who is on a day-long visit to the coastal state, said if his party comes to power, it will start sustainable mining in the state.

    “We have studied the subject. There is no problem in restarting the mining in a legal way. We are going to allow legal and sustainable mining which will give a large number of jobs. Your spirit and tourism is a huge asset. I have spoken to different stakeholders in the tourism industry, we have a plan to completely rejuvenate the tourism industry,” he said.

    The iron ore mining industry, which used to be one of the major sources of revenue for Goa, had come to a grinding halt in the state in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. Gandhi said the Congress proposes to invest money and energy for turning Goa into an IT and knowledge hub, so that many young Goans can get jobs in the IT industry.

    CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF GOA ELECTIONS

    The Congress leader assured that three linear projects in Goa – a national highway expansion project, Tamnar power transmission project and the South West Railways’ double-tracking that cut through the biodiversity hotspot of Mollem – would be scrapped, if his party comes to power.

    “The issue of environment is crucial for Goa. You would say that these three linear projects are in the ambit of central government, but after assuming power, the Congress will resist the idea of these projects. We will not let them happen,” he said.

    There is also the issue of unemployment in Goa, Gandhi said. He refused to comment on the raging controversy over ‘hijab’ and said he would not get into any kind of conversation that will distract the people of Goa. “My mission is to focus what is important for the people of Goa,” he said.

  • Unexcited & confused, goans face yet another poll

    Express News Service

    PANAJI: Goans are concerned over high unemployment rate, plight of farmers, degradation of environment and decline in tourism business, which is the backbone of this coastal state. Amid all these worries, the voters don’t seem to be excited about the Assembly polls.

    Twenty-one-year-old Darren Khadekar, a resident of Sana Cruz, has been waiting for a decent job after completing Masters. “I applied at several places but received no reply. I am getting gig jobs from companies like Amazon, Swiggy and Zomato. The problem with these jobs is that they don’t pay much and also requires you to have a motorcycle. I lost my father and we are three siblings. My mother is struggling to run the house.”

    The youth said the Revolutionary Goan Party (RGP) is “fighting for the sons of the soil”. The RGP is attracting a lot of youth. It is like Shiv Sena. I have a lot of hope for this party (RGP),” he added.  The private think-tank Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) recently released a report, according to which the 22.1% unemployment rate in Goa is the second-highest after Haryana (28.1%). 

    Darren’s mother, Anna Gracious, who calls herself a social activist, is not only worried about her three children’s future but also about degradation of Goa’s environment.  “Goa is such a beautiful state, but see what the incumbent BJP government has done. It’s converting the tree-dense land into a concrete jungle. I am not sure where this will lead us to,” Gracious said.

    She also pointed out the decline in tourist footfalls. “Due to rising rape and assault cases, foreign tourists are not much flocking here. We are confused about whom to vote. Even if we vote for a secular party, at the end, the BJP is going to grab power,” she rued.

    Teodoro Gonslavas, a farmer near Panaji, said the government has good schemes but the problem lies in their implementation. Pointing out at the scheme that provides tractor for tilling to farmers, he said the government tractors never come on time. “If we decide to hire from private parties, they charge almost triple.”

    Arvind Bhatkar, a resident of Calangute, wondered who is going to solve the issues.  “Whenever election approaches, people start raising various problems. Once the election is over, people stop talking about them. BJP government was doing a good job but at local level, we support the Congress candidate because he is a good man. Bhatkar said government should ensure their schemes reached people.