National leaders will be flying down to Goa in the coming weeks as the State rushes towards the February 14 election. The dropping in of party leaders has already been dubbed as political tourism and Goa will be seeing a lot more of this in the coming fortnight. The arrival of some leaders has already been announced, and there will be more coming, bringing along promises of transforming the State. This is not new and occurs at every election. Why should it be different this election? But it is time that the Goan voter turn this political tourism into an opportunity to list out what the State requires and question the leaders as to whether they would be able to deliver on the promises they make and on aspirations of the Goan people.
The questioning of the national leaders is turning definitely possible this campaign. Unlike in previous years, when the national leaders flew in, addressed a large public meeting, waving out to the crowds gathered, and then flew back, this time the pandemic is making it possible for the meetings to be held indoors and with a limited number of people in attendance. This presents the voter with the opportunity to question the politician. If in earlier times, it was only the media that was in position to ask questions, this election any voter who wants to pose a query could possibly do so, as it is not just meetings that will be behind closed doors, but the pandemic is changing the campaign styles too.
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Here’s how the campaign style is changing, besides just small meetings. The restrictions on large public gatherings have also led to national leaders walking along with the candidate on their door-to-door campaigns. Some have already done this in the State, and others are doing it in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab that are also voting along with the Goa. This is something that has rarely occurred in Goa and so presents yet another occasion for a dialogue between the voter and the leader, where the former can get commitments from the latter. Should, such opportunities be allowed to be frittered away or should the electorate smarten up and put forth their views and ask questions of those who come knocking on their doors?
Questions that can be asked of the candidate and the accompanying national leaders can range from constituency specific issues, to those of State and even National importance. A voter may want answers to the local infrastructure development and on services that are below standard, but can also branch out from there to query on the issues plaguing the State. Corruption is what usually comes first to mind during an election campaign and especially when talking of election issues, but education, health, environment, law and order are also issues of importance. Health in particular, after the experience of the second wave of the pandemic is of paramount importance and any party has to present a plan for health care and upgrading the services.
Defections by MLAs is the other issue that haunts the political system in Goa. In the run-up to the polls, candidates have taken oath in religions places and others signed affidavits that they will not defect. Can they promise their voters that they will stay with the party they have been elected on for the entire term? Or can the electorate extract such a promise from the candidate? The campaign period is the best chance that the voters get to interact with the politicos, as they seldom turn up again once elected. If the opportunity can be put to good use, surely it can pin down candidates and their national leaders to a commitment. It would be a start.
