------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.casadegoa.org -------------------------------------------------------
2007 polls: Congress, BJP had their share of problems BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 9 - The BJP's score this election may be just three seats less than that of the Congress Party but it's no solace to a party that dreamed of getting 24 seats on its own. In a wide contrast to its claims of attaining majority - BJP's show in the assembly election last week was somewhat dismal - it lost in seven seats even as it wrested five. It's a major set back for BJP and its CM in-waiting Manohar Parrikar. The BJP showed lot of promise, showcasing the work done by Manohar Parrikar ministry as an example of BJP's "good governance", exposed corruption of the last two years of Congress rule in a big way and promised many sops like unemployment doles, abolition of house tax, etc. On the other hand, the Congress had its own routine problems over selection of candidates, Regional Plan 2011, Churchill Alemao posed a big challenge in Salcete and if this was not enough - at eleventh hour Babush Monserrate dealt a heavy blow to Congress further diminishing its chances to be in majority. In short, when the Congress was in doldrums and when BJP campaigned as the best alternative to the electorate offering lot of sops like 'no house tax', the question that is yet to find answers is: how did the BJP fare badly compared to the Congress. BJP leaders had created an hype with the impression that it would win 24 seats and had also managed the media well enough to get lot of publicity for itself and for Manohar Parrikar as the next CM. But all these couldn't get sufficient votes for the 'Lotus'. Reasons may be many. But analysts say that Congress may have been badly hit by RP 2011 but it appears that silence on the part of BJP leaders for three months after the Plan was approved, didn't go well with the electorate. The BJP came out with an unemployment dole policy but BJP's PETS apparently was a reminder of how unemployed youth were treated under the regime. BJP's campaign focused on misgovernance of the Congress government, phenomenal rise in the prices of essential commodities during the last one year and above all its promise to provide stable, secular, sensitive government - looked liked BJP had all ingredients to evoke response from voters. Moreover, its election manifesto looked better than that of Congress. In certain constituencies it's campaign worked wonder fully, but failed in others. BJP however attributed its failure mainly to the flow of money power. It may be true in some constituencies. In a poll analysis, some MGP leaders felt that an alliance with BJP would have got them a clear majority to rule the State. Just as SGF damaged the prospects of Congress in the South, MGP did the same for BJP, having played a similar role in the North. Seats like Dhargalim, Ponda, Pale, etc, were lost because of a split in votes between the BJP and MGP. But the BJP which opened its account, riding piggy-back on MGP, this time, didn't give them any importance. Probably, BJP party leaders were over-confident that they would make it on their own without the baggage of smaller parties. Whatever the case may be, BJP's expectation of winning 24 seats on its own strength was too big a dream to come true in 2007 - when Congress did not take the risk of going solo despite its never ending tu-tu main main with the NCP. http://oheraldo.in/node/25408 ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
