With the swearing-in formalities over in Punjab, Manipur and Goa, the newly formed governments, especially in Punjab and Manipur, have their work cut out for them. In Manipur, the BJP may not be the single largest party, but the opportunity to form the government is richly deserved in view of its remarkable performance. From zero seats in the previous assembly to 21 now, and grossing a vote share of 36.3 per cent against the Congress’ 35.1 per cent, the BJP has come a long way in this north-eastern state. In Goa, the BJP’s seat count may have dipped but in terms of vote-share, if not seats, it pipped the Congress, 32.5 per cent to the latter’s 28.4 per cent. In any case, the smaller parties and independents whose support was needed to form the government in Manipur and Goa have aligned with the BJP. The Congress may cry hoarse over the BJP’s alleged use of money power to woo these parties but why would any rational politician ally with a party that has no future in national politics.

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In Punjab, the once-prosperous state is now battling an agrarian crisis and a rampant drug-abuse problem. The Congress has made lofty promises of cracking down on drug peddlers and the neta-police-pharma nexus that has created the flourishing narcotics market in Punjab. The Congress must remember that the Aam Aadmi Party had briefly emerged as a viable political alternative. The Akali Dal was unpopular in its second term because of  perceptions that the Badals’ business empire had grown even as the state plumbed the depths of economic despair. Amarinder Singh had earned a reputation for being a laidback administrator in his earlier term. Instead of showering the electorate with welfare schemes, a ploy the Congress excels in, the new government must take the lead in inviting fresh investment to revitalise Punjab’s industries and develop new agricultural models that can put more money in farmers’ pockets.

The BJP’s performance in Manipur is an outcome of the Congress’ failure to improve the economic lot of the people. For long, the Congress has milked the hill state’s fears of being overrun by the Naga tribes to ensure that the electorate repeatedly voted for the party. But the long economic blockade of Manipur finally took a toll, on both the people and the Congress. Petrol prices had risen to Rs.200-300 per litre amid a general scarcity of essential commodities. The lack of jobs forced many young people to migrate to major Indian cities. The BJP has chosen the affable N Biren Singh, a Congress turncoat, to head its government. Okram Ibobi Singh, for all his flaws, ensured relative peace in the state. Ibobi is a shrewd politician and the BJP will have a tough time keeping its flock and its allies together.

Manohar Parrikar’s return to Goa will benefit the BJP. But heading a coalition government is a different ball game. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, the Goa Forward Party and the independent MLAs can be expected to demand their pound of flesh. After an incredibly corrupt tenure of the Congress, Parrikar, with his urbane middle-class persona, had bolstered the BJP’s political capital. The going will be tough and it remains to be seen how Parrikar survives a full five-year-tenure, while keeping his ministers under check.