Winning the voters over
James Fernandes
The feeling of not being wanted, the feeling of living in isolation and the feeling of living in wilderness for seven long years, was getting unbearable to some within the group. And the thought of living in further isolation was becoming uncomfortable even amongst  family and friends. However, they were given  hope, and in a way fulfillment, when individuals within the group thought of a strategy that would eliminate their misery forever.
 Today, the whispers are gaining momentum. The idea of showering Goans with financial goodies was born out of a desire to come out of that wilderness. While in search of avenues to capture and remain in power, the masterminds within the group mooted the brilliant findings --- that if power is to be captured, the electoral policies adopted by the victorious legislators from certain constituencies, were to be followed. They specifically targeted those constituencies where the voters were inclined towards their MLA or candidate, where a particularly victorious candidate did not have to sweat it out to be elected.
Their findings informed them  that, even though Sattari taluka and Poriem in particular, was one of the most backward and illiterate taluka of Goa; the voters still voted for the individual who provided them with  certain  necessities. The voters expected the candidates to fund their household expenses in cash and kind, as well as tiny jewelry items of Gold and Silver to be gifted to the newborn and those getting married. They demanded that their semi-literate or illiterate sons and daughters to be employed, as office assistants in various government offices or the Police Department.
They received communication that the voters of Madkai, vigorously pursued the policies, expectations and benefits earned by the people of Poriem. On learning that their MLA, as Minister for P.W.D had consolidated his control over huge wealth, they demanded and succeeded in receiving huge benefits. At the same time, the voters of Priol constituency began their journey to the residence of the Madkai MLA, seeking substantial benefits, to elect his brother as MLA of Priol. The Voters of Priol and Madkai besides demanding, construction material to construct walls and additional rooms to their houses, also demanded financial, medical and other  assistance  during child birth, deaths, illnesses weddings, house functions, and religious festivals.
 The Darbars in certain Constituencies were synonymous with distribution of wealth. The Master minds received detailed information, how the migrants approached certain MLAs to permit them to encroach and construct houses and businesses on public or Communidade land. They further consolidated their hold over their MLAs, by demanding that they provide them with water and electricity connection, voter and ration card and other government documents, in return they gave them assurance and commitment that they would remain their loyal vote banks, their cherished voters and hence expected their MLA to personally know them by  name.
Rewarding information kept pouring into the tanks of the masterminds. However their greatest comfort arrived when they were enlightened with the knowledge that revealed a despicable but valuable truth -- that several Religious leaders who preached morality, Human values and Honesty, were ready to sell their soul to the highest bidder; that they would not hesitate to dine and receive gratification from an individual however deceitful and corrupt.
Armed with the knowledge that the common factor in the victorious MLA’s strategy to win elections was money and cultivation of vote banks;  backed by the realisation that there are countless people including their Religious Leaders, across the Goan landscape eagerly awaiting gratifications, the think-tank enacted a Road Map that would target to shower 60 per cent of  voters who voted, with financial rewards, whereby they would not only succeed in winning the present, but also the next election in 2017.
With the intent of luring the housewives into their fold, 1,25000 housewives were to be identified as potential voters and provided with Rs. 1,000 a month and Rs. 60,000 in five years. With the objective of attracting one lakh senior citizens into their fold, a man or woman would have to be selected as potential voter and gifted with Rs. 2000 a month and Rs. 1, 20,000 in five years. To attract the educated unemployed approximately 7,000 educated unemployed people were to be provided with Rs. 3, 500 a month and Rs. 2,10,000 in five years. In order to attract the prospective voters from the Higher Secondary Schools, approximately 13,000 students are to be provided with tablets  worth approximately Rs. 25,000, with the intention of luring the two and four wheeler petrol vehicle owners, a subsidy of Rs. 20 per day, Rs. 600 per month and Rs. 36,000 in five years is to be gifted to them. To capture the minds and hearts of Seafarers , approximately 5,000 Seafarers  were to be screened, identified and gifted Rs. 2,000 a month and Rs. 1, 20,000 each in five years, thereby gaining  the good will of the Seafarers.
To capture the hearts of 4, 50, 000 prospective voters, they decided that if 75,000 girls getting married over a period of five years were thoroughly screened, and if 15,000 of the identified girls getting married every year are given Rs. 1,00,000 they would win over the gratitude of the bride, her husband, her parents and in-laws thereby bringing 4, 50,000 grateful voters into their fold. Their defining moment to celebrate and be joyous arrived when their calculations revealed, that if 1,25,000 families of four voters each are screened and there after provided with Rs. 4,000 a month and Rs. 2, 40,000 in five years, they would succeed in bringing another 4, 50,000 voters expressing allegiance to them.
For the icing on the cake, they calculated that if an  average of the two sets of 4, 50,000 voters is considered, each of the 40 candidates would  secure 11, 250 votes,  thereby guaranteeing the victory of the BJP in the next 2017 Assembly Elections.
 But Manohar Parrikar surely realizes that in order to distribute wealth, it must be created; to create wealth, courage and conviction is required. To gain that, in turn, discipline is required. But our CM’s vision could unfortunately fail because Goans are indisciplined. However he will certainly win the next Assembly Elections.