Political Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, Apr 5: Even as national parties like BJP, Congress and NCP have began their quest for votes, none of the parties in Goa have spelled the local issues that it would reckon with for the forthcoming poll.

UPA constituents Congress and NCP have shared the seats in two constituency strong state. And BJP is fighting on its own in both the constituencies.

Interestingly, although the parties have began wooing voters, there is no firm committment about local issues from them.

After facing strong resentment for failing to protect interests of traditional people living in coastal regulating zone, the congress had assured that relief to CRZ affected people will be prime on their agenda.

However, besides a statement in the press conference, nothing concrete solution has been suggested by congress leaders including chief minister Digamber Kamat who are at the helm of affairs in the state to address CRZ issue.

Trying to bail out from similar situation, congress leaders had pronounced their support to the off shore casinos.

The party had said that off shore casinos provide employment to several hundred Goan youths.

But the congress is caught up in its own mess as its state government has proposed shifting these casino vessels in the sea from Mandovi river here.

The off shore casino operators strongly feel that shifting them in the sea would amount to asking them to shut down operations as customers wont travel deep sea to gamble.
Apparently realising the messy situation it is facing, the congress party has meticulously kept the issue away from election campaigning.

South Goa congress candidate Fransisco Sardinha has attempted to garner votes by promising to make traditional bullfights legal. But his moves were pre-empted by his political rival and co-congressman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who moved the bill in recently concluded state assembly session amending cruelty to animal act, which would make bullfight legal in the state.

The NCP, on the other hand, is gripping with the problem to sort out infightings.

A day before congressman Jitendra Deshprabhu joined NCP to contest from North Goa, NCP's Goa chief Dr Wilfred de Souza announced that the party will not raise single local issue.

For de Souza, the national issues are enough to get votes for Sharad Pawar-led party.

The BJP, which has entered its third phase of campaigning, too have not come out with local manifesto yet although the saffron party leaders take pleasure in lashing out at congress led state government.

What's more stunning is the way regional parties are groping in darkness over the issue.
With the exception of United Goans Democratic Party candidate Matanhy Saldanha piggybacking on CRZ issue, no significant issue is being taken up during the campaigning.

The regional parties like UGDP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party are fighting this Lok Sabha poll only to salvage its lost voters' base.

Both the parties had faired poor for the recent state legislative assembly poll.

MGP President Pandurang Raut, who himself is contesting north goa seat on the party ticket, during a recent press conference has conceded that the oldest regional party is desperate to get back its political hold in this coastal state.