A GAMBLE THAT PAID OFF

WHILE A FRAGMENTED OPPOSITION FAILED TO CAPITALISE ON ANTI-INCUMBENCY, THE BJP FIELDED A RAFT OF DEFECTORS AND WON

- KIRAN D. TARE

ON MARCH 10, WHEN THE counting of ballots began at 8am at the government polytechnic in Altinho in Panaji, Goa, the mood was somber. Just two hours later, though, the atmosphere had turned jubilant as BJP workers garlanded a victorious Vishwajit Rane and hoisted him on their shoulders to chants of “CM Vishwajit Rane yancha vijay aso (cheers to CM Vishwajit Rane)”. The health minister in the Pramod Sawant government could barely conceal his grin, but was humble in his response. “I have no ambition to become the chief minister. I will abide by the decision taken by my party leaders,” he told reporters.

The BJP office turned celebratory once again after the news of Sawant’s victory came in. The workers cheered: “Pramod Sawant once more”. And though the CM’s victory margin was 756, his thinnest so far over the past three elections, it diminished Rane’s chances of landing the top post.

The support for Rane, though, is a sign of the new BJP in Goa. The Ranes of Sattari, erstwhile royals, had traditionally been Congress loyalists, but Vishwajit Rane, son of six-time CM Pratapsingh Rane, chose to throw in his lot with the winning side after the election results were announced in March 2017. He was rewarded with a cabinet post while retaining Valpoi, a Rane stronghold.

The BJP’s gamble of fielding 33 defectors seems to have paid off in thwarting anti-incumbency. The Sawant government had been facing a lot of dissent over allegations of corruption during the pandemic, attempts to turn the state into a coal transportation hub and disregard for the environment, among other things. It was the defectors, mostly local strongmen, who managed to retain their traditional vote bank and helped the BJP win 20 of the state’s 40 seats, one short of the majority mark of 21.