So, Manohar Parrikar, famous for being instrumental in bringing the defence ministry on track of modernisation with transparency will now be taking charge of Goa. In the political circles, this is seen not only as a loss to the defence ministry, but also for Parrikar himself.
Without wasting further time, we better touch the point of propriety in BJP’s staking claim in both Manipur and Goa, where it emerged second biggest party, with the Congress being the largest one. Contrary to the claims of Digvijay Singh that the Governor should be calling the single largest party, what the Governors had done was well within the limits of constitutional provisions. As BJP was able to submit the proofs of support from other parties/independents, the Governor was only asking the post-poll alliance that was stitched together by BJP. When it comes to the final show down, Congress could not muster numbers and fell flat on its face.
Despite conducting a secret ballot, Digvijay and the team of representatives of Congress Hi-Command could not finalise their CM candidate. This, is the best self-portrayal of the party’s culture, given the party even does not have a majority in the assembly. Had there been majority, there might have been open fights amongst the candidates on the beaches of Goa. Now, even one of the CM candidates, Digambar Kamat places the blame squarely on the fragile shoulders of Digvijay Singh and other cronies who accompanied him, for responding so late and taking more time than required to decide.
Though Digvijay Singh now holds record of losing as many state elections, wherever he was assigned the responsibility, his apologies to the high command only shows what a boot-licker he really is. His wails would have found some resonance, had the Governor allowed BJP to form the government, without any support letters from other parties/independents. Had that been the case, Supreme Court might have stayed the swearing in ceremony, as was demanded by the Congress via the special petition.
Sadly for Digvijay Singh, that was not the case as smarting from its earlier adventures, this time BJP was smart enough with paper work too. It took not more than one day for Nitin Gadkari to regroup all renegade allies of erstwhile government, along with some new ones.
During the hearing, Supreme Court had asked Congress why they did not stake claim with the governor? And, Abhishek Manu Singhi, whose expertise in confined rooms was more famous like the termites that ate his tax records could not answer the bench. The final nail that punctured the allegations of Congress was delivered by the CJI, when he stated the single largest party would be the one that could muster more numbers, indicating the post-poll alliance that BJP had worked out. He even suggested if the Congress government is allowed to be formed, but fails to prove majority in the assembly that would be the worst scenario. Following the natural principles of justice, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the swearing in of Manohar Parrikar led coalition government.
Though Digvijay Singh tried to hide his incompetence behind the moral rule that would dictate that the Congress should have been given the opportunity to prove majority on the floor of Assembly, he could not explain how it would not help Congress buying independents, if that is what he accused of BJP now. If BJP buying independents is immoral, it would remain so even if Congress buys them. His exasperation explains how fast BJP was in both these states, in pure political terms and strategy and implementation. Well, this is not the BJP of Vajpayee, benevolent enough to give knife to the enemy and let him make cuts, so the party can bleed to a certain death. New defence strategy of Modi’s BJP is the good old “Offence is the best Defence”.
Given the fact that Digvijay Singh planned the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and got Chidambaram declare the decision at a time close to midnight, never gives him a right to talk of high morals. For that matter, not a single member of Congress party could talk even of high morals. But, supporters of BJP can, well criticise the decision keeping the high standards that are expected of the party they support. It is for the BJP whether it heeds to its supporters or follows Congress. Only time will tell this, of course.