SHOAIB SHAIKH

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PANJIM: The social media is beginning to play a big role in the Panjim by-elections. Taking cue from the viral video of Marathi folk song ‘Sonu Tuza Mazyavar Bharosa Nahi Kay’ (Sonu don’t you trust me), both the major political parties, Congress and BJP, have launched their own versions to attack each other.

The Congress about a week ago had released its video taking a jibe at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is popularly called ‘bhai’ by asking the people of Panjim, “Panje tuka bhaiicher bharosa nai kay”  (Panjim don’t you trust Bhai).

Responding to the video, the BJP’s youth have released a video which attacks the Congress as a party and questions their self-confidence, “Congress tula swatavar bharosa nai kay” (Congress don’t you trust yourself).

Congress through its viral video has raised issues of U-turns and the state debts, which the party has been raising as an issue both inside and outside the Assembly. Taking a dig at Parrikar for the way the current government is formed, the singer says “Karchona mhani tu taddjodd, Amdarachi karta mare todd fodd,” (You said you won’t indulge in horse trading, you are now breaking up MLAs).

Not forgetting to target Parrikar on the issue of casino, the song accuses him of usurping crores of rupees. Further attacking him on the city’s annual flooding during monsoons, the song points out that the Miramar-Dona Paula road has been worsened and therefore with all these issues in mind the people of Panjim will ensure your defeat, “Rajkaran sod tuka ghara ata dhadta,” (Leave politics, sending you home now).

Responding to the Congress jibes, the BJP has first spoken about the infrastructure development carried out in Panjim during the tenure of Parrikar as MLA.

Right from the school complex at Cujira to new Patto bridge, six lane by-pass of Ribandar, new Panjim municipal market, making Goa the permanent venue for IFFI, the first multiplex of Goa (INOX) and development of the capital city under the Smart City project.

BJP’s song has accused the Congress of introducing casinos and making money at the cost of the casinos and questioned the achievements of the Congress during its entire tenure of ruling the state. The song concludes “Faltu arop karap hoch tumcho tool, Bhai marey amcho sadach cool,” (Making irrelevant allegations is your only tool, however our Bhai is always cool).

While, the videos get viral and both the parties try to persuade the voters with their propaganda, the question thus arises, Is this the new era of election campaigning?