DNA Edit: Go Goa Gone? Parrikar's ill-health spells trouble for BJP

With questions being raised over the health of Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, the BJP-led ruling coalition government seems precariously perched. Compounding the woes of the BJP government is a flurry of political gossip and unsubstantiated reports. Despite a statement issued by the Lilavati hospital in Goa- where CM Parrikar has been admitted for treatment of inflamed pancreas- emphasising that the CM has been taking well to the treatment, the rumour mills have been churning non-stop.

For Congress sitting in the Opposition in the state, CM’s spell of ill-health could become an opportunity. It will seek to redeem itself after the disastrous post-poll management of the outspoken Digvijaya Singh who failed to steer Congress to power even when it had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly election.  

In March last year, Congress managed to raise its tally to 17, an addition of eight seats over the 2012 polls, while BJP lost eight seats and notched up a total of 13 seats. Post-results, while Congress failed in getting its act together, BJP managed to form its own government thanks to its quick-on-the-feet electoral management and stitched together a wafer-thin edge over the Congress in the state. As an afterthought, Congress booted out Singh from his position as the official in charge of the party’s affairs in Goa and Karnataka but the damage had been done. Local parties like the Maharashtravadi Gomantak Paksha (MGP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) along with two independents agreed to lend their support to the BJP on the condition that Parrikar is made the CM.

Now that a mystery hangs over Parrikar’s health, the political landscape has become fluid. In the coming days, if no clarity emerges on the actual health conditions of the CM, one can reasonably expect the MGP and the GFP to exploit their kingmaker position. Aggravating the crisis is the failure of the BJP to groom a secondary rung of leaders in the state who can rise to the occasion and match, if not replace, Parrikar’s administrative skills and political finesse. Here, the BJP has nobody to blame but itself given that it is in the person of Parrikar that large sections of the government are concentrated.

Incredibly, Parrikar heads the state’s finance, general administration, personnel, home and vigilance department. With him in the hospital, Goa’s engine of governance has come to an abrupt halt. Already, signs that the state government is at a loss are visible. Beginning this week, the Goa state legislature trimmed its month-long budget session to mere four days. Sans Parrikar the state government is now hemmed in and has decided to adopt an interim five-month budget till the assembly reconvenes in July. If Parrikar does make a quick recovery and comes bouncing back to his role, it would once again be smooth sailing for the BJP.

However, in case, he does not make a quick return the crisis will only deepen. The BJP must learn its lesson from this development. It cannot afford to have its state polity revolve around one leader alone. The party headquarters will have to take the pains to identify young leaders.