BJP-NCP ALLIANCE TO TAKE ON MONSERRATE

PANJIM: It is now becoming increasingly clear that a coalition of sorts, between the BJP, NCP and independents, is being cobbled up to take on the might of Taleigao MLA Atanasio Babush Monserrate in the forthcoming polls to the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) to be held in March.

Sources informed TOI that the BJP was shaky in its confidence to take on the Monserrate panel. In the last CCP election in 2006, the BJP managed to win nine wards out of 30 wards in the CCP jurisdiction.

Later, Rudresh Chodankar from Mala-Fontainhas, who had contested the poll with the backing of the BJP, switched allegiance to Monserrate mid-way through the five year term.

With 19 wards in his kitty, the Taleigao MLA, who is also the state's education minister, ensured that the CCP catered to most of the wards represented by his candidates, although a few did complain of step-motherly treatment.

The overwhelming attention to CCP wards in Taleigao is visible with several development and beautification works carried out, even as BJP ward corporators in Panjim cried hoarse that the CCP should be renamed as the 'Corporation of the City of Taleigao'.

The pampering of wards, represented by the Monserrate panel, is what is worrying the BJP think-tank, besides the oft-brought up allegations of money and muscle power to bring in the votes.

The fielding of the NCP-backed panel to break down non-BJP votes seems to be a master stroke, with Monserrate panel members admitting they are wary of whom the NCP MLA Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco will field and fund for the CCP polls.

If the double-barrel gun of the BJP and the NCP facing the Monserrate panel was not enough, the demand by the United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA) to give scheduled tribes a 12% representation among the 30 wards of the CCP, has also given the Taleigao MLA's battle plans a shaky start.

Monserrate jumped the gun, even before the ward reservations and poll date were notified, and announced his 30 candidates. Should the UTAA demand materialise, it will mean three wards will be reserved for the ST community and a further setback to Monserrate's strategy.

Rumours are also doing the rounds that the president of the travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG) Gourish Dhond will contest the CCP elections from the Boca da Vaca ward, a BJP bastion, this time around.

However, it is unclear whether Dhond will contest with support from a BJP-backed panelas early indicators reveal, he will be fielded as a NCP-backed candidate.

Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar, had said, that he would tie-up with "like-minded candidates" and Dhond could be projected as a "consensus candidate", sources say. When Parrikar was asked for his view on Pacheco's fielding a NCP panel, he replied: "I have no views. You are free to read between the lines."