By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar
Panaji, June 15 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is back at the helm in the state after a four month hospital stay but now faces a litany of chaos.
Much of it stems from inertia caused by the absence of a decision-maker and some from the unending squabbles between partners in the ruling coalition, whose harmonious functioning has hinged on his hands-on ability to play deal-maker.
IANS lists five key issues, which Parrikar has to tackle as he hit the ground running on Friday.
Restore popular faith in his ability to govern:
Very rarely has the social media in Goa erupted in scorn and ill-will against a politician suffering a serious ailment, raising questions about the 'popularity' of Parrikar. The mistrust between civil society factions and Parrikar's leadership needs to be bridged at the earliest.
In the Chief Minister's absence, pressure from his aides led to the arrest of a social media user for suggesting that Parrikar is dead, triggering outrage. A journalist was also summoned by the Crime Branch for suggesting the nature of Parrikar's illness, soon after which he was barred from entering the Goa assembly. Both incidents attracted wide condemnation.
Restore confidence in his government
The chaos which marked Parrikar's absence in the state, as well as in the cabinet, is very real. Cabinet ministers as well as ruling and opposition lawmakers have been crying hoarse about stalled recruitment in government, which awaits Parrikar's sanction.
The 2018 summer saw unprecedented power cuts -- as much 22 hours a day -- which forced frustrated BJP leaders to storm offices of the Electricity Department.
The Opposition has also cried hoarse about failing law and order, citing a gangrape by tourists and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence's busting of an illegal ketamine factory allegedly operated by a BJP office-bearer, with whom the latter has denied association.
"He has to counter these lies that governance is not functional. He has to ensure that governance runs smoothly. His absence did affect smooth functioning, but his return will improve it. In the present scenario, Parrikar knows the interests and priorities of Goa and he will put them in place," says ruling ally Goa Forward's chief spokesperson Trajano D'Mello.
Resolve the mining crisis
After publicly taking credit for initially banning mining in Goa in 2012, two subsequent bans by the Supreme Court have attracted ire against successive BJP led governments.
The state and Central governments have been accused of dilly-dallying at finding a "resolution" to the current impasse, following the latest apex court ban on mining in February.
"Mining is important. We are hoping that his guidance will help resolve the matter now," state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said.
New agitations cropping up
While undergoing treatment Parrikar, missed out on massive civil society agitations against a controversial land-use plan endorsed by his government, which activists allege, is a prelude to series of land conversion scams.
A draft Coastal Regulation Zone notification, which allows real estate development in close proximity to seas and rivers, is now stoking dissent anew against the proposed changes. "If the CRZ draft is notified, it will destroy Goa's very essence. The Chief Minister has to look into this," Aam Aadmi Party's Siddharth Karapurkar says.
In the past, a fit and feisty Parrikar has managed 'tackle' civil society dissent. Whether he will physically and mentally able to cope with such pressures remains to be seen.
Taking on a renewed Congress
Parrikar's absence in Goa also saw the death of former state Congress president Shantaram Naik (last week), whose status quoist approach had defanged the Opposition. His replacement, Girish Chodankar has managed to get under the skin of the ruling alliance with his edgy grassroots approach. "Goa is in doldrums on all fronts. People's anger towards this illicit BJP government can be felt on ground," Chodankar claims.
Countering the Congress resurgence will also be a key challenge for the Chief Minister.
(Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in)
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