Now, onus on Mickky to prove mettle before next poll

Margao: With his induction into the BJP-led government, Nuvem MLA Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco may be raring to add a touch of flamboyance to the chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s cabinet.
But, political analysts say that after being left out of power for the last few years, Pacheco will have to swear by development if he has to emerge as a serious political contender in the next elections.
With the 2017 assembly polls less than 30 months away, Pacheco’s induction has come not a day too soon.But, with Pacheco being allotted seemingly lackluster portfolios like rural development and archives, the former tourism minister will have to apply a brake to his “maverick mannerisms” and hit the road running to prove his mettle before time runs out for him, political observers feel.
Pacheco, who contested the assembly polls from Nuvem as a candidate of the Goa Vikas Party (GVP), a regional outfit of which he assumed the reins just before the polls, emerged victorious defeating the Congress heavyweight Alexio Sequeira. GVP, with its two MLAs – Pacheco and Benaulim MLA, Caetano Silva – has extended support to the BJP-led government.
The contours of the political landscape have undergone subtle as well as obvious changes post-2012 polls. What should apparently be of concern for Pacheco is the growing political ambition of his one-time aide and confidante, ZP member Wilfred D’Sa, who had handled his assembly poll campaign in 2012.
But, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, while Pacheco backed the candidature of BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar, D’Sa was seen actively campaigning for Congress candidate Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. D’Sa is now the vice chairperson of the South Goa zilla panchayat and is learnt to be harbouring ambitions of contesting the next assembly elections against Pacheco from Nuvem.
Political observers feel that for Pacheco to emerge as a serious political player in the 2017 assembly polls, he will have to offer his GVP as a stronger alternative to both the Congress and the BJP for the electorate.
Analysts are also of the opinion that the move by the BJP of inducting Pacheco into the cabinet while also stripping MGP’s Pandurang (Dipak) Dhavalikar of the coveted cooperation portfolio, is a shrewd political manoeuvre that fits well into the larger scheme of things of the saffron party.
“By doing so, the BJP has ensured that Pacheco is kept on a tight leash while also keeping him in good humour, and MGP’s growing influence in undermined,” a political observer pointed out.
The GVP camp, however, is of the opinion that their “dynamic and go getter” leader doesn’t have to take cudgels of a cabinet berth to prove his mettle.
“For the last two-and-a half years as an MLA, Pacheco has overseen many development works in his constituency. Cabinet berth is not a pre-requisite for development. Most of the new development projects undertaken by the electricity department, PWD etc are being implemented in Benaulim and Betalbatim (areas represented by the GVP). Pacheco’s induction in the cabinet – no matter what his portfolio is – will make his task that much easier, as there are still another two-and-a-half years to go,” a close aide of Pacheco told TOI.