The coastal state of Goa is set for a political showdown in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress) locked in a fierce battle. The elections, to be held in the third phase on May 7, will witness intense competition in both the North Goa and South Goa constituencies, the state’s only parliamentary segments.
In North Goa, five-term incumbent Shripad Naik of the BJP will face a challenge from Ramakant Khalap, a former Union Minister and Congress stalwart who represents the seat he won in 1996. In South Goa, a traditional Congress bastion, the BJP has fielded Pallavi Dempo, a political newcomer and wife of businessman Shrinivas Dempo, in a bid to make inroads into the Catholic-dominated Salcette region. The Congress, in a surprise move, has dropped its sitting MP Francisco Sardinha and replaced him with former Naval officer Viriato Fernandes.
The elections have been marked by controversies, including recent remarks by Fernandes about the Indian Constitution being allegedly forced upon Goa after its liberation in 1961. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seized on these comments, accusing the Congress of separatist tendencies, a charge vehemently denied by the opposition party.
Adding to the political intrigue is the emergence of the homegrown Revolutionary Goans (RG) party, led by Tukaram ‘Manoj’ Parab, which is contesting both Lok Sabha seats. The RG has vowed to sweep away the ‘old, corrupt order’ of Goan politics and has emerged as a potential wild card player, having secured over 9.5% of the vote share in the 2022 Assembly elections.
With political machinations in full swing, the land of ‘Susegad’ (relaxed or laid-back) is galvanised as frenetic poll campaigning reaches a crescendo. The outcome of the elections will have significant implications for the political landscape of Goa and the national political scene.
