> Goan Catholics who are switching loyalties to the BJP ( for instance, > in the June assembly elections , it was pretty evident from ward wise > voting patterns that the Catholics saved Manohar Parrikar's bacon in > Panaji )
Vidyadhar Gadgil wrote: Yes, this is a very interesting issue, and responses from informed people would be useful. It is probably only elite Catholics who currently have pro-BJP leanings. FN's comments: Gadgil, you mean "upper" caste Catholics? I think, yes, the BJP does appeal to their sense of conservatism. They would have no problem with it, if it wasn't so overtly dependent on polarising things on religious lines. Even with the latter, they are willing to do business with it. But then, there can also be class alliances cutting across religious lines. If a Narana Coissoro can represent the anti-abortion CDS/PP (Democratic and Social Centre/People's Party) with its ideological foundation on Christian democracy, Conservatism and Classical liberalism, then what's so surprising in the stand of the "elites" of Campal and elsewhere in Panjim when they see opportunity come their way? --FN -- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org Ph +91-832-2409490 The Goa books blog: http://goabooks.wordpress.com Goa1556 (alt.publishing.goa): http://goa1556.goa-india.org
