SAFFRON political parties like the BJP, which is national in its outlook, and the MGP, which is a regional party, espouse the same Hindutva ideology. This ideology propagates that a person is a true Bharatiya only if he or she practices a religion which has its origin in India (called punyabhumi) or whose forefathers were born in this country (called punyabhumi). Now, although both the BJP and the MGP propagate this ideology and try to outdo each other in showing the people who is a true Hindutvawadi, there is no unity among them.
This has come to the fore with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declaring the BJP would stake its claim to the Mandrem constituency in the 2027 elections which is just two years away. Sawant made it clear that Mandrem would not be available for its alliance partner like the MGP.
Sawant said this during a workers’ rally organized in Mandre, that was attended by the BJP state president, Damu Naik, former Mandrem MLA, Dayanand Sopte, north Goa BJP president, Daya Karbotkar, and the Mandrem constituency BJP in-charge, Professor Govind Parvatkar, also the former Panaji MLA, Siddharth Kuncalienkar, Mandrem BJP Mandal president, Uttam Pokhre and several other politicians.

HISTORY REPEATS
RIGHT now, it is the MGP which represents the Mandrem constituency. The sitting MLA is Jit Arolkar who belongs to the MGP. “We all regret having lost the Mandrem constituency by a small margin during the last assembly election, we must resolve from now onwards to ensure history is not repeated under any circumstances. The BJP will continue to claim the Mandrem constituency,” declared Sawant.
“Just as we take credit for a win, it is our duty to accept the responsibility for a loss and try to win. The time has come to accept that responsibility. We will have to work hard to correct the mistakes as part of that responsibility and cross the 27-mark in the 2027 election. We all have a responsibility. Only if the workers have enthusiasm and passion for work can we achieve our goals in the upcoming elections,” the CM of Goa declared.
Sawant heaped praise on former MLA Dayanand Sopte, for continuing his social work despite the adverse circumstances and for building the party in the constituency. The state BJP president, Damu Naik, stated that while constituencies will have to be released for the alliance partners, the BJP would retain its claim on the Mandrem constituency.
“THERE is no doubt that some tough decisions will have to be taken for the sake of Swarajya. In the 2027 elections, the BJP will have to make some compromises to achieve Swarajya. The Mandrem constituency is a stronghold of the BJP and we will not make any compromises on this,” Naik declared.
He went on to add that party workers need to forget their differences and work in an organized manner. The posts given by the party are not to show off, but to work for the party,” he said. He then went on to give a detailed account of the BJP’s work in the Mandrem constituency. Like all politicians, Damu Naik said the BJP would win “101 per cent” in the Mandrem constituency in the next elections.
Mandrem is dominated by the Hindus who will vote en masse for the BJP. During the 1967 Opinion Poll, there can be no doubt that the voters who were from this constituency, voted for the two leaves symbol to merge with Maharashtra. But villages in south Goa like Macazana, Curtorim, Velim, Chandor, Raia, Rachol, voted for Goa to retain its separate identity. Finally, the MGP was defeated in its nefarious design to merge Goa with Maharashtra.

SPEAK MARATHI
BUT today, nearly one-quarter of those living in Goan cities like Panjim, Ponda and Bicholim, speak Marathi, so that the nefarious design of the MGP to merge Goa with Maharashtra has been achieved through the back door.
Coming in the wake of the proposed reshuffle of the Goa cabinet, this announcement of the chief minister that the BJP will go it alone in Mandrem is significant. Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said the cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of the chief minister. The performance of the ministers are being reviewed constantly and the decisions for the reshuffle will be taken in consultation with the High Command at Delhi, he said.
If the BJP feels that some minister is not performing and there is a need for a change, then the BJP high command will take a decision in the interest of the state. “We cannot comment,” said Phal Dessai.
What takes the cake is that reshuffle apart, the anti-defection law has not prevented our law makers from switching political parties. This “horse trading” as it is called, involves crores of rupees exchanging hands and the promise of “lucrative portfolios” to those who join the ruling party.