The indications coming in from Dehradun, of the Congress winning the crucial floor test, which will restore the illegally toppled Harish Rawat government, will be a shot in the arm of opposition forces against the BJP government here. The restoration of democracy in the face of BJP’s dictatorship, proves India is still bigger than Narendra Modi. And the same should hold true as much for Uttarakhand as for Goa.
The fact that remaining MLAs supporting the Congress in the floor test, after nine Congress MLAs rebelled against the Chief Minister, refused to buckle to BJP pressure is very significant. It shows that the fear and the power of the Centre, need not work in the states. This is not just a true lesson in federalism. It’s a triumph of democracy.
The BJP, by its personal and irrational attacks on the Congress in Uttarakhand and the Aam Admi Party in Delhi has not only strengthened the resolve of the cadres of these parties, but has made it a fight among equals. The BJP by constantly hitting below the belt has lowered the discourse. But the Congress in Uttarakhand and the AAP in Delhi have engaged with Modi at that level. And the AAP in Delhi at least, is delivering governance simultaneously.
Therefore Goa is the next battle ground where this will play out. Arvind Kejriwal’s May 22 rally in Goa will be the official blowing of the battle bugle for AAP, post which grass root mobilization is expected to intensify.
Meanwhile the Congress in Goa should see the signals emanating from Uttarakhand, that taking on the might of the BJP and winning is possible. If this does not make the Goa Congress group together and draw strength and identify new faces to begin their work in the constituencies, nothing will.
There is another hidden lesson from Uttarakhand, though this was a floor test and not an election. The more the BJP at the Centre and the states behave like dictators and alienate themselves from the local people, voters will gravitate to one party or force which can defeat the BJP. Therefore the entire debate on opposition unity may well be settled by the people going to vote. If they make up their mind to throw out the BJP, they, will chose one party which clearly presents itself as the most credible and exhibits this seriousness on the ground.
In Goa , the manner in which institutions are being compromised, corruption is being tolerated and every arm of the government is either participating in or watching rules getting bent, presents a scenario where a consolidation towards one anti-BJP force rather than multiple ones is very plausible.
The BJP knows this and that is why it is restless to back splinter groups, disgruntled forces and new outfits to keep them in the mix. Ultimately, as always, the people of Goa may take some vital decisions which will make politicians realise yet again, their folly of taking people for granted or assuming that voting patterns can be controlled by them.
