SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Alexandre Moniz Barbosa
The lists of candidates being released by various political parties throw up some interesting aspects on gender and familial issues in relation to electoral politics in the State. For the purpose of this column, we will look at just one aspect – the male dominance in the lists, where very few seats have been allocated to women candidates. This is across almost all major parties and the new entrants, but what is starkly obvious is that a large section of the women on political party platforms are related to the men also contesting on the same party ticket, and have come into politics riding on the success of their husbands or their parents.
Here’s what the lists look like: Bharatiya Janata Party has two couples in its list, Congress has one, Trinamul Congress has a couple and a father-daughter combination. There are two brothers on the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party list of candidates. BJP also has the son of a deceased former MLA as candidate. Aam Aadmi Party that until now has more women candidates than other parties, does not have any family combination in its list, but one of its women candidates is the widow of a former MLA, who stepped into a political role after the death of her husband. Also slated for contest is a father-in-law versus daughter-in-law duel (there is still speculation whether this particular contest will take place or not, but party lists show such a possibility) and an aunt taking on a nephew in another constituency. Family raj, as this aspect of politics has come to be known in Goa, is re-emerging in the State this election, perhaps stronger than was seen before.
In past elections, family raj has played a major role in Goan politics as local politicians seeking to extend their hold on neighbouring constituencies, and increase their influence in the party, have been bringing in spouses and siblings into politics and then their children as inheritors of their political legacy. It increases the area over which they have control and, if the relative wins, strengthens their position in the party in seeking and demanding a larger role in government or portfolios of choice. For them, it is a win-win situation, but on the other hand it reduces the choice that the voter has at the time of casting the ballot, if the party restricts its own choice of candidate.
Dynastic politics has been prevalent in Goa and in India almost throughout its electoral history, bringing along with it the ills of nepotism and increasing the corruption potential. What it results in is the concentration of power among a few, which most certainly is not in line with the principles of democracy. Goa has seen the chief ministerial baton passing from father to daughter in the 1970s but family raj came to be highlighted in more recent times as politicians of long standing sought to gain a bigger advantage in politics and believed that their authority could be strengthened with the addition of family members who would unquestioningly back them in the race for higher stakes.
Dynastic politics may have proved to be a winning feature in the past, but the political narrative is beginning to change in the country and also in the State, with questions on such nepotism being raised within parties and also among the voters. A more enlightened electorate, that is dominated by young voters is not buying into the past history of politicians in choosing their candidates. The youth is beginning to play a bigger role in politics and the social media in which they are extremely adept and constantly on, is sending out signals that should force parties to rethink their strategies on dynastic politics, of only the latter were listening. Since the parties are still formulating their choices based on their past strategies, it is clear that they are not in sync with the current times.
A clear example of the above is that past two elections, where families that attempted to stake their claim for seats in the Assembly were rejected by the electorate. In 2017 just one father-son duo got elected, while a couple on Congress tickets saw one spouse elected and the other rejected. Of two siblings on the MGP ticket, one got elected and the other lost. It is a clear message that dynastic politics is not what the people are looking for. Evidently, the Goan voter is not blinded by the family name and has his own reasons for voting a particular individual.
For that matter, surely Goa deserves better than to be offered candidates whose only claim for the ticket is that they are family members of existing politicians. There has to be a standard set by the political parties to select their candidates and family connections just cannot be one of them. The opportunity to represent a constituency should be offered to the workers of the political party who have toiled for it over the years. This will not just bring about a healthy competition within the party but the workers will be better able to rally round the candidate when the nominee is someone who is from among them.
Let’s be certain that unless there is equal opportunity in selecting candidates, can political parties that are elected to serve create equal opportunity for the people? Can they deliver on the promises that have been made and meet the expectations of the people?
The Goan voter desires the State’s progress and wants that the party and its elected members bring about a positive change in the quality of life, but politicians who are seeking to bring relatives into the fray have self and family promotion as their main aim. The wishes of the people become secondary. Democracy is not about family ties. It is all about leading the State and the Nation. For this we need persons who are qualified to lead and whose qualification is not marital or blood ties to another person. An individual from a political family showing such capabilities is altogether a different matter, but shouldn’t they prove their capacity to lead before seeking to jump in the fray and occupy political positions?
Alexandre Moniz Barbosa is Editor, Herald. He tweets at @monizbarbosa
