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Alemao spoils Khalap's pitch

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The fate of Goan MPs Ramakant Khalap and Churchill Alemao is still hanging fire. But the election may strengthen their base and decide their bargaining power in the assembly polls.

The United Goans Democratic Party, led by Alemao, is a front runner. After sweeping the last Lok Sabha poll in south Goa by ending the five-term Congress hegemony, Alemao is now making a headway in north Goa.

Khalap's Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which ruled the state for 17 years since 1961, is trailing far behind. If the Union law minister loses, it may split his party further, strengthening the UGDP and the BJP.

It was a surprise when Alemao defeated former Union minister Eduardo Faleiro by over 25,000 votes in south Goa. The BJP and MGP lost a sizeable share of votes to him, while the Congress lost a whopping 26 per cent of its vote. Along with the Catholic bahujan samaj, even the Hindu bahujan samaj stood behind him.

Sensing the vacuum created among the Hindu bahujan samaj, Alemao has now entered north Goa to woo grassroot workers in the Hindu-dominated tourist state.

Having no Catholic candidate, the Christian community is now delving into the merits of other candidates. The process of shifting their traditional allegiance from the Congress had begun during the last election when Khalap made a major breakthrough in the Congress bastion.

Besides gathering a huge margin in the MGP-dominated talukas of Pernem and Bicholim, the Congress also lost around 20 per cent votes to the Union law minister, especially in the Catholic-ruled talukas of Bardez and Tiswadi.

But his dominion is now challenged by his own United Front colleague. Besides wooing the Catholics, Alemao is drawing large crowds in the Hindu-dominated MGP areas. Though his candidate cannot win the election, the UGDP can play a major role in defeating Khalap.

Despite attempts from the MGP camp, the BJP and UGDP rejected proposals of a poll alliance, so that they could bargain with Khalap during the next assembly poll on the basis of the votes they could poll now.

The MGP's fate now depends on Khalap's victory. Alemao's entry into the north has shaken up the Congress. The ruling party could poll only 38 per cent votes last time; Khalap polled five per cent more votes.

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