If the results of the civic polls, arguably a credible barometer of the aspirations of the influential decision urban decision makers could be encapsulated into a news magazine, the Margao results will easily be its cover story.
While the punditry over the results of all other urban bodies, won, lost or managed by the BJP will be raging across tavernas, tintos and party offices, there is no punditry needed to figure out why 11 people’s candidates won in Fatorda with the help of an alliance, which fed off the energy of Fatorda Forward.
During the build up to the elections, Herald held back as it watched the Fatorda Forward panel become a mini movement. It was important to allow this to grow and take shape naturally, since the seeds were sown for this kind of a genuine civic movement by the people themselves. Advocate Rajeev Gomes, initially emerged as the face of the change people sought, as they protested, barged into the MMC and marched on the streets demanding clean roads, demolition of illegal structures, the solving of Margao’s biggest crisis- the Sonsoddo garbage mess.
While Advocate Rajeev Gomes has not triumphed politically, it’s important to bookmark all stakeholders and people magnets who can transform from being the protesting polity to political masters of their own fate. Everyone who genuinely believes that people can be their own political masters, needs to be on board this joyous and monumental ride for change.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has indeed tapped in the people’s mood and used the art of political science to transfer aspirations to achievement. But, neither he nor anyone else could have managed unless there was fund of discontent and frustration at the level to which our civic problems, and those of Margao, in particular, have mounted. This was seen, when a young Chief Officer, who took the corrupt establishment including his political bosses, was backed to the hilt by the people of Margao. And if the previous Chairperson had to move out amidst the shadow of corruption, the credit must go to the people of Margao alone.
But having the desire for change alone, couldn’t have delivered these results. It is also a triumph of organisation and planning as much as it is about aspirations. To tap into the fund of hope, you must listen to people. You must hear them and not sermonise them. The mapping of the problem as well as figuring out a solution must come from within them. Therefore the process of dialogues initiated by the Fatorda Forward, helped debate, discussions and finally delivery of aspirations through an electoral verdict.
The freshness of new faces brings hope. The rejection of the jaded and the failed gives belief that change can happen. But this is just the beginning. The Margao model has to be replicated not just in other urban areas but be the template for Goa’s electoral system. The cloak and dagger school of politics needs to be shut down. The cheapness of attacking and shutting down projects of your opponents needs to stop. Politics can be about vilification campaigns but good governance cannot be. And the people of Goa have voted for good governance in Margao.
This is a lesson for all. For Damu Naik. And for Digambar Kamat. Naik may well wonder, or should at least wonder, how can Chief Ministers and Defence Ministers deliver results for urban civic bodies when the core is jaundiced. They are not super humans and most importantly, they are not super brands who will command votes. A para-dropping weekend Defence Minister or a bereft from reality Chief Minister became political liabilities in the Margao election, and not assets.
Meanwhile Mr Digambar Kamat should learn lessons from Fatorda. The old order indeed has changed yielding place to new. Old style politics does not matter in a new age Goa. And to use the parlance of a generation which will decide political futures, old timers must get online. Or log out. They must get online to realise that promises are meant to be kept, agendas must make sense and dialogue and delivery need to be partners and not an estranged couple. The Margao civic polls has brought home these realities in a historic, hopeful and happy manner.
