The La affaire Francis D Souza, which is, at the very least, a rumbling in the ranks, needs to be quelled or internally addressed for the BJP. Sections have asked why one of the party’s senior most leaders and ministers, who carried the minority flag for over a decade, is actually referring to the BJP as “they” and hinting that his sidelining could be because he was a minority MLA.
While matters of health are deeply personal and sensitive and need not be subject of speculation or public debate, they become issues of public concern if it impacts the functioning of a minister. For instance the venerable Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s health isn’t a matter of public discussion because the former Prime Minister is pretty much a private citizen. Sonia Gandhi too can take the refuge of privacy since she holds no government position and the party is pretty much run by her son.
While other MLAs and Ministers may have health issues – and with utmost respect to the Honourable minister – it hasn’t impacted their regular and consistent work in the government and the party. Unfortunately, in Mr D Souza’s case, that appears to be happening.
However the Minster does have the right to be sensitive and state that his health has impacted his functioning. But he could have perhaps handled with a little bit of finesse. At the same time, senior party functionaries could have also reached out to him and opened a confidential line of communication where it could have been communicated that though the party was keen to see him regain health and fitness, governance could not suffer.
The minister has decided to speak about it to journalists who are approaching him and it appears that he is venting his pent up feelings about his own perception of being sidelined in the party.
This is where a quiet talk might help. All Francis D Souza perhaps needs is an arm around his shoulder and a quiet chat about his health and how he’s feeling and how best the twin needs of his health management and ministerial functioning can be managed.
It is clear that Mr D Souza isn’t willing to relinquish power in a hurry. His statements referring to decision makers in the party as “they” and going to the extent of saying that some do not like him since he is a minority leader, could have been avoided. Francis also nurses a hurt that when Manohar Parrikar left for Delhi to join the Modi cabinet, he was edged out in the Chief Ministerial race. While the party hasn’t confirmed at any point of time that he was shortlisted, D Souza believed that he was the natural choice.
However, it is a fact that the BJP, has seven out of BJPs 14 MLAs who are from the minority and two of the seven (Mauvin Godinho and Francis D Souza) are minsters.
But politics is all about perception, including a politician’s personal perception. Francis D Souza joined the BJP at a time when the party had no minority base. And when someone like him starts speaking publicly against the party, even if it’s in poor taste, it needs to be addressed.
Not surprisingly the political ramifications internally of La Affaire Francis D Souza will have to be taken into account. The Chief Minister will have to, like a trapeeze artist balance the compulsion of giving political space and position to Babush Monserrate currently wearing the Goa Forward uniform, as well as to Calangute Michael Lobo, who may be disappointed once the NGPDA is bifurcated and power divided. It is no secret that Lobo is eyeing a ministerial berth which can only be created if D Souza, at some point of time opts out of the cabinet. For now the Chief Minister is unlikely to make any changes and let D Souza improve his health. Fresh allocations to the Goa State Urban Development Authority (GSUDA) and monitoring and clearance of schemes and projects within the ambit of his departments will go on as the Chief minister will hand hold the former Deputy CM’s departments.
But it is clear that in less than six months time, a professional call has to be taken but with utmost sensitivity.
