Cong bites mining dust in Goa

The Congress-led alliance has been ruling the state since 2005 but its rule has been marked by scandals and controversies such as illegal mining,corruption in government and crime.

Congress leaders blamed ticket distribution,the mining controversy and the failure to tackle people’s anger for the defeat.

“Despite being in the Congress,I spoke out against illegal mining and the preference to families in giving tickets but no one listened to me. The party has today seen the outcome of those choices. The local leadership is responsible for this,” deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho said.

Accepting defeat,Chief Minister Digamber Kamat submitted his resignation to the state governor.

“I have submitted my resignation. It is for the party leadership to decide what has gone wrong and who is responsible,” he said.

Among the big losers from the Congress were former BCCI vice-president Dayanand Narvekar,Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhash Shirodkar.

At the BJP office,the celebrations were in full swing. Five-time MLA Manohar Parrikar is expected to be sworn in as the new chief minister. “The party will decide about chief ministership. I thank the Goan people for reposing faith in our party and we are committed to the vision of Goa we presented,” he said.

To many,the results were expected,considering the voting pattern and distribution of tickets. Social activist Oscar Rebello said people were “angry” as the Congress was thought to be taking them for granted. “There were daily agitations over various government decisions and the Congress chose to ignore them. They also insulted Goan political sensibility by giving tickets to leaders accused of corruption and their family members. People have given them a reply,” he said.

In a blow to the politically powerful Alemao family,Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao lost to first-time candidate Rajan Naik of the BJP. Churchill Alemao’s daughter Valanka Alemao lost to Caetano De Silva of GVP. GVP chief Mickey Pacheco defeated Sequeira in Nuvem while rebel Congress candidate Vijay Sardesai (Independent) defeated BJP’s Damu Naik and Congress’s M K Shaikh in Fatorda.

Kamat retained his Margao seat while deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho won from Dabolim,defeating Premanand Nanoskar of the MGP. The Congress lost eight seats it had won the last time while the BJP gained Calangute,Sanvordem,Cuncolim,Tivim,Aldona and Curchorem.

Though the BJP does not need the support of the MGP or Independents it had backed,the party leaders indicated they would be included in the Cabinet.