I am no fan of the politics of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena. I think both parties have no political ideology and are primarily foster a political of violence.
The violence and fascism being witnessed in West Bengal and Maharashtra is out in the open for people across India to see. The post election violence in West Bengal hit lows of inhumanity with women getting raped, men getting killed only because of their political preference that did not include the TMC. This happened under the watchful of eyes of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is a woman herself.
In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena known for its strong Hindutva ideology has turned out to be poor shadow follower of the Congress and NCP. In their greed for power, they have unleashed their often seem violence on people who have criticized the Shiv Sena Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Interestingly, in an effort to be recognized as a national party and not only a regional party, both TMC and Shiv Sena have turned their focus towards Goa. It is not that TMC and Shiv Sena have not tried to create some mark in Goan politics, they have done so in the past.
However, both TMC and Shiv Sena have always had a dismal performance in the state. Their strategy to bring disgruntled political leaders from Congress, NCP or BJP into their fold, often backfires. Because these disgruntled political leaders from other political parties, often did not have a strong standing on their own political to create a wave.
More importantly, TMC and Shiv Sena, only think of Goa during the assembly elections or the Lok Sabha elections, they do not focus of creating grassroots workers of the party in the state and neither do they voice their opinions on Goan politics prior to the elections.
While, I have to say, Shiv Sena does make some whispers, TMC is quiet as a mouse on Goa-related issues. It only wakes up during the elections.
TMC and Shiv Sena in Goa will not dampen the chances of the BJP.
In fact it will work to the advantage of the BJP. It will however, eat into the voter base of Congress and the new entrant AAP.
TMC is meeting senior political leaders of Congress, NCP and some disgruntled BJP leaders also. They have decided to take a quick ride to success in Goa elections. Find one or two winnable candidates from existing political parties and back the candidate with funds to win. Even winning one seat, gives them a status of a national party.
In fact, Prashant Kishor I am told met with some regional political leaders too on Goa. And had mooted an idea of a strong TMC national support to a Goa regional alliance.
For some strange reason, when I analyze the intent of the TMC, I am more than convinced that it appears to latch on to the dwindling Congress numbers in the state and become the alternate ‘secular’ party in Goa.
Shiv Sena too wants to play the ‘secular’ card with a tinge of its claimed Hindutva politics in Goa. They are seen as an option to eat into the BJP Hindu voter base. Unfortunately, for Shiv Sena, they Hindus in Goa are not a fan of Shiv Sena kind of politics especially the thug mannerisms of its leaders that get reported in from Maharashtra. The people of Goa are known to be against violence and political parties that rely on violence to spread politics. So while local Shiv Sena leaders are not known for their violent acts, they do carry the burden of their counterparts in Maharashtra.
To me both TMC and Shiv Sena are like cars without number plates in Goa.
They have no legitimacy in the state and people of Goa will not legitimize them, simply because they are not seen as a Goa party and neither as a national party but as regional parties from West Bengal and Maharashtra.
The election scenario in Goa is hotting up.TMC and Shiv Sena will bring their own spice to the election scenario. Driving around Goa like a car without a number plate.
