Some want him to become Union Home or Finance Minister, others see him doing a good job handling a Central Ministry dealing in infrastructure or even deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.
The jury in Goa is out on what role Manohar Parrikar should play as a senior lieutenant in the Narendra Modi Cabinet, if the latter wants the technocrat in his Dream Team.At the same time, it would be interesting to try and gauge the changes in State politics which Parrikar’s possible elevation could trigger.For a man who commands respect outside the State as an able and innovative administrator, within Goa, Parrikar evokes radical reactions ranging from an administrative genius committed to the State to a henchman of the mining and casino industry.
While Parrikar’s quick and dismissive style can leave many intimidated, even BJP loyalists admit that the absence of Parrikar from Goa will be a huge advantage to Opposition within the State.While several persons think that the second choice as Chief Minister should obviously be North Goa MP Shripad Naik who won the seat for the fourth time by a huge margin.
“Shripad Naik would be the CM. I do not see another alternative,” says political commentator and lawyer Cleofato Coutinho. Incidentally, Shripad himself is looking for a Cabinet berth in the Union Government. In the past he has been Minister of State for Shipping among other portfolios.The others who could be in contention for the chief ministerial slot are either former BJP State president laxmikant Parsekar or current Health Minister laxmikant Parsekar or current Deputy Chief Minister Francisco D’Souza.
According to Trajano D’Mello vice-president of the Opposition Nationalist Congress Party in the State, Health Minister laxmikant Parsenkar could be promoted.Manguirish Pai Raikar, a former head of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) calls it for D’Souza. “He has the ability to take everybody along. He does not have the arrogance and at the same time also has the administrative ability,” Raikar claims.
D’Souza is one of the party’s oldest Catholic faces.But what impact will Parrikar’s exit have on local politics and governanceIJ While opinion is divided except on the idea that it will definitely be strengthening of the Opposition in the State.According to human right’s consultant Ranjan Solomon and a forward critic of Parrikar, his Government has left the State in disarray with his absence of vision. He wishes for a strong regional party, which speaks the language of inclusive growth. “Right now, it is rudderless,” he claims.On the other hand, D’Mello argues that with Parrikar out of the way the Opposition will find a stronger voice.
Armando Gonsalves from Panaji, one of the most vocal supporters who has been rooting for a Cabinet berth for Parrikar, says that the ground could be ripe for a tattered Congress to step out of ‘minority cushion’ and rebuild, and for the Aam Aadmi Party ‘to set base’.In the face of a weak Opposition, Parrikar’s biggest Opposition has been the civil society, activists and environmental activists aka greens.
When it comes to mining, Parrikar is nothing short of a paradox. A man who exposed a mining scam during every Assembly session for seven years as Opposition leader, when in power, is now being accused of not only going slow on the very minor barons and politicians, who allegedly orchestrated the scam but also being defensive of mining companies.
Even Gonsalves, says “Parrikar’s biggest threat comes from the Greens, and though I believe that MP is not the mining industry’s surrogate, he has to toe their line because of big corporate interests. He will have a problem here, because, there is a huge surge of sentiment against mining”.According to Solomon, the exit of Parrikar, who has outright rejected setting up of a government corporation to take over the multi-billion dollar mining industry, would help “democratisation of the mining industry” and bring it “under control of the people”.
To the question of which portfolio Parrikar will get, if any, his supporters say, it will either be Home or Finance.“Home, because a man from Goa would calm the possible fears that the minorities may harbour, and not because he is particularly a good Home Minister in Goa, and Finance because Manohar has managed Goa’s finances well,” he says.