This is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s first election after the death of four-time chief minister and former defense insider Manohar Parrikar. A sort of litmus test, the BJP is relying on Parrikar’s legacy to win the electoral ground of development and the hearts of voters.
In a high-octane election, Goa voted in a single phase on 14 February. A total of 301 candidates contested and over 11 lakh voters cast their votes to elect the next government in the coastal state.
Parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have campaigned aggressively this time in the hotly sunny state to get a piece of the political footing. Goa witnessed a multi-cornered competition with smaller regional parties like Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP), among others, who could play a key role in case of a hung assembly.
alliance: The Congress went to the polls after forging a pre-poll alliance with the GFP, while Mamata Banerjee’s TMC joined hands with the MGP. Shiv Sena And the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also joined hands in Goa, while Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and BJP are fighting alone.
important issues: The three main issues that dominated the Goa elections were corruption, mining and development. However, the ruling BJP ensured that they used Parrikar’s political legacy to retain their traditional electorate.
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Parrikar’s Legacy: Parrikar’s son after not getting a ticket from his father’s Panjim seat, Utpaldecided to contest as an independent against Atanasio Monserrate of the BJP.
Battle of Ex CMS: Five former Chief Ministers of Goa – Digambar Kamat (Congress), Ravi Naik (BJP), Churchill Alemao (TMC), Laxmikant Parsekar (Independent) and Pramod Sawant (BJP) – are in the fray in this close election.
2017 Fiasco: In 2017 In the Goa Assembly elections, the Congress emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House. The Congress lost the opportunity to form the government due to internal strife over who would be the CM candidate and alleged mismanagement led by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh. The BJP had secured 13 seats but was quick to forge alliances with the MGP, GFP and independents to form the government under Parrikar.
Read also | Exit Polls Point To Fractured Mandate In Goa, Congress Back In Resort Politics To Avoid 2017 Redux
Promises to keep: Congress-GFP Alliance He has promised to restart mining in the state, ending the “disease of defection”. He also promised that he would run a clean government if people uproot the corrupt BJP.
BJPFree LPG cylinders, on the other hand, have promised to resume mining and no hike in petrol and diesel prices.
TMC With pro-women schemes, the creation of 20,000 jobs and 80% reservation for Goans in various sectors, it has promised “Nai Dawn”. He also promised to resolve the Goa-Karnataka Mahadayi water-sharing issue.
Kejriwal’s AAP Promised free education, healthcare and 12.5% quota in assembly for STs.
other parties: Smaller regional parties like Revolutionary Goa, Goencho Swabhiman Party and Jai Mahabharat Party are also in the fray along with 68 independent candidates.
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