The BJP swept the Zilla Panchayat by-polls, winning all three seats at stake and placing itself on a high electoral pedestal, all the opposition criticism notwithstanding. Under constant fire over playing divisive politics, the saffron party emerged triumphant with considerable ease while the Congress was left humiliated.
We reiterate that although the turnout for the by-poll was dismal, having recorded average voting of just over 46 per cent, political parties had a lot at stake. The BJP had a point to prove, and so did the others like AAP, RGP and the Congress. But, barring Davorlim, where the BJP faced a stiff challenge from the AAP, the saffron wave swept Opposition in the other two constituencies.
The Congress was decimated in all three segments, with candidates returning with dismal figures. The ghost of defection appears to have haunted the party, and the listless performance shows that the grand old party is no longer relevant as the main Opposition. In fact, the spirited fight put up by AAP and coming within sniffing distance of an upset provided a glimpse of a changing political narrative. Let's not forget that Davorlim is the bastion of Ulhas Tuenkar, the BJP MLA representing the Navelim constituency.
On the other side, Reis Magos saw a massive BJP win while the BJP-backed Independent candidate in Cortalim also romped home with big numbers. The saffron dominance is evident in both these areas, but the emergence of RGP cannot be discounted, having displaced Congress from the fray.
It is pitiable that Congress leaders continue to find excuses for defeats while the downward spiral continues. The impact of defections on elections was anticipated, and the party should have accordingly planned its strategy to attempt a new beginning, as promised. On the contrary, the party leadership, which still remains under a rock, abandoned the party candidates who were left all alone to fend for themselves. This is disgraceful against the reassurance of using defections as springboards to bounce back.
The RGP has made humble beginnings in Reis Magos and Cortalim and needs to remain grounded for more significant challenges ahead. Candidates making random statements and exuding overconfidence after the by-poll, especially when the numbers are heavily against the party, do not augur well for a good opposition in electoral politics.
The BJP's electoral strategy and the aura the party leadership has created lately of invincibility have worked. Moreover, the BJP has effectively encashed on a divided opposition. On the flip side, the Opposition's failure to halt the BJP stood exposed. The political discourse that the Opposition was harping on — from unemployment to job scams and corruption failed to click. Also, the Opposition, which is taking solace in finishing second or overtaking Congress, had given up much before the contest began. The low voter turnout said it all.
It is time Opposition parties understand the intricacies of electoral politics and what it takes to upstage the high-riding BJP rather than finding comfort in this result.
