Affable, is the spot on description for Goa’s new Congress Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. The fact that he has few enemies in Goa’s convoluted political circles, has catapulted Kamat, a saraswat brahmin, to the number one position in the new coalition government. His “acceptability” factor helped him edge past more obvious choices like Goa PCC chief Ravi Naik and the outgoing chief minister Pratapsingh Rane. Though the 53-year-old Kamat, who was in the BJP till two years ago, lacks the political acumen or the grassroots support that Naik enjoys, political observers feel his low-key and understated political manner could stand him in good stead in managing the ambitions of the different players in this Congress-led coalition. Digambar Kamat has won five elections in Margao and withstood a shrill campaign from the BJP and RSS in the June 2 poll to prove convincingly that he represents a cosmopolitan Goa. The new Goa chief minister speaks to Devika Sequeira of Deccan Herald about his political leanings and his plans for the state. Excerpts:

How do you analyse the outcome of this election?
Goa is extremely peaceful and no one likes this peace to be disturbed. By and large Goa’s secular-minded people wanted the Congress to come back to power. Despite lots of advantages — some factors were not in favour of the Congress for various reasons, but still people voted Congress.

You were in the BJP for almost 11 years. Did you leave BJP because you thought that you could at best be the number two man there with Manohar Parrikar on top?
Those are not the reasons (for leaving). I’m a man who requires self-respect. I have never lobbied for any post. Even when I was in the BJP, I never tried to pull down the chief minister (then Manohar Parrikar). If I wanted, I could have made all the moves. I fully supported the chief minister during my tenure as minister in the BJP government. But then, I felt some of the people in the BJP were trying to hurt and humiliate me by not taking me into confidence. Important decisions were being taken by three or four people, without taking me into confidence, though I was the number two in the Cabinet. Some of those decisions and incidents went against what I felt was right. So I thought if they don’t want me in the decision-making body, why stay in a party that has no confidence in me?

The BJP accused you of encouraging migrants, especially Muslims, to settle in your areas so that you could expand your vote-base. What is your response?
India is a secular country. Anyone can go anywhere to work. I contested election in 1994 for the first time for the BJP. Before that I contested on a Congress ticket in 1989 and lost. Even then, there were many slums in Margao, which had registered voters. I have not created those slum areas. I will not name the people, but the slums were the creation of politicians who were around at that time. When I contested the first election, I promised I would provide them basic amenities. They supported me and I kept to my word. Every other politician had cheated them. For the first time their women had toilets and their children were being looked after.
You were not involved in the overall Congress strategy in this election. Obviously, there is resentment  within the PCC that you edged out Ravi Naik to become the CM. How do you propose to counter that resentment?
I am known to carry everybody with me. I have worked in various fields, the co-operative field, sports, education, as an opposition MLA and minister. Wherever I have been, I have not given scope for complaint to anyone. I am confident with my nature and overall understanding I will be able to carry all sections of the Congress party.
The BJP sees you as a CM, who will be remote-controlled by forces inside and outside the Congress.
This is the opinion of the leader of Opposition (Manohar Parrikar of the BJP). I don’t require a certificate from him. I have more experience than Parrikar. I started my career as chairman of the Goa Agricultural Marketing Board in 1979. In my entire political tenure, I’ve always held elected posts. I cannot be remote-controlled, bullied or won over by ulterior motives.

How do you propose to face the challenge of governing Goa?
I’ve always told the people of Margao that we have a stake in contributing to its betterment. I will apply the same yardstick to Goa to make it “Bangarachem Goem” (Golden Goa). People will join hands with the government when they realise this government is for the common man.
There is increasing resentment among Goans over the sellout to developers and encroachment on comunidade (community) lands. Would there be a policy to protect the interests of ethnic Goans?
I have already said conversions of land under the scrapped Regional Plan 2011 stand null and void. A new plan will be prepared taking into consideration all sections of society. We’ve already put it in our manifesto and will see to it that the interest and identity of Goans is protected.

How will you manage the challenge of running a coalition with so many ambitions to fulfil?
Our relationship with the coalition partners is important. I have excellent relations with the MLAs from the NCP and MGP. I have developed a personal rapport with many politicians from other political parties also. There is a lot of goodwill for me and I will try and encash on it.