Even as this is being written on the eve of the last day for the withdrawal of nominations, the sheer number of candidates in this year’s elections, has left the electoral field completely fragmented and mind-bogglingly confusing.
In 27 constituencies, out of 40, there are more than 5 candidates, with most having between 6 and 8 candidates. Vasco, St Cruz and Dabolim have 9, St Andre has 10 and Cortalim has 12. An initial scrutiny reveals that in most of the constituencies most of the candidates have either sprung up at the last minute or joined parties on the day of filing their nominations. Some have signed their party forms almost simultaneously with their nomination forms while some have not even done that. The Representation of People’s Act does not make it mandatory for a candidate to be member of a political party to get its nomination. Such questions are only asked if a candidate files multiple nominations, supported by two or more parties from the same constituency as Joseph Silva did in Fatorda.
Strikingly, the candidate lists in most constituencies are not filled with Independents but with party candidates of parties big, small and fledgling. For instance, none of Pernem’s 8 candidates are Independents, nor are any of Mandrem’s 7 candidates, or Saligao’s, Sanvordem’s and Curtorim’s 6, or Sanquelim, Nuvem or Bicholim’s 5. 8 out of Cortalim’s 12 candidates are contesting on party tickets. In St Cruz and Vasco which have nine candidates each, six, in each, are contesting on party tickets.
So you get the drift. But what does this indicate? Simply, that parties have become ticket distribution agencies, some acting as B teams or fronts of larger outfits, some acting as parking spaces for rejected candidates of bigger parties (rebels) who prefer party affiliation than going independent. Parties like the NCP with no infrastructure or organisation have come in handy here. It gives Pratap Gauns shelter in Sanquelim and Churchill Alemao in Navelim. But even these platforms are fragile as it was proven when Nelly Rodrigues jumped from NCP to Goa Vikas Party (Mickky Pacheco’s ex-party, remember), now headed by his ex-associate Lyndon Monteiro. In Benaulim too, Maria Rebello, who would have been an extremely strong Congress candidate against NCP’s Churchill Alemao, has now been “netted” by the Goa Vikas Party.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the GVP is BJP’s secret weapon in Salcete. It is fielding candidates who are at a lose end and will use them to heavy effect in splitting votes affecting Congress chances in five key constituencies, Cortalim, Benaulim, Navelim and Cuncolim. GVP has interestingly not fielded a candidate in Nuvem, where Mickky Pacheco is himself contesting on a Goa Suraj Party ticket. This is not a coincidence and any political watcher will realise that there is a scent of a deal here where old friends and foes will come together to dent the Congress votes.
Why, even the Congress has “rented” its symbol to Babush Monseratte in St Cruz and one would suspect even St Andre with both candidates loyal to Babush Monseratte more than the party. And in Taleigao, where Mrs Monseratte is contesting on a Congress ticket, it’s too obvious to comment what the final arrangement will be.
The canvas of candidates across 40 constituencies is a muddle of confusion with only one pattern. Parties are being used by bigger ones for adjustments, deals and cutting votes.
The BJP on the other hand has managed dissidence much better by almost neutralising Ramesh Tawadkar by preventing him from joining the MGP and it now appears that he may be pursuaded to withdraw as an Independent too. In Mayem, Anant Shet was denied a ticket but was prevented from contesting on any other party ticket.
The only party which has stayed clear of this clutter is AAP. The party may still have its work cut out but there can be absolutely no debate on the manner in which it has worked in the villages of Goa, identified candidates, announced them early and put them on the ground working free of any baggage. This is a model which is good for Goa but other parties need to have the clarity to take this route, as a long term exercise of party building, and not a short term one of deal making.
