It’s election season in the Indian state of Goa, and that means one thing: more politicians and political candidates will be pledging to move a fleet of casino boats off the Mandovi River.
The Business Standard reports that Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is considering a state BJP proposal to shut down offshore casinos operating in the coastal state. “They have sent me a proposal. The government will consider it and then take a decision. I have not read the proposal in detail yet,” Sawant told a press conference at the BJP state headquarters on May 15.
Three political parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Goa Suraksha Manch have promised to close the offshore casinos, and Bharatiya Janata Party state President Vinay Tendulkar said his party has asked for the removal of the seven offshore casinos after their licenses expire.
At this point, that claim may sound familiar to Goa voters. As the opposition party from 2007 to 2012, the BJP vehemently opposed the state’s casino, which had been licensed under Congress-led coalition governments. But once it took power, the BJP supported the industry and said shutting it down would reduce investor confidence.
