Outcome of Panjim elections
It was a close fight in the Panjim elections with both toppers coming in close. In such cases it can be said that both parties won the people’s mandate. Either side is bound to have supporters who did not cast their vote due to being sick, out of station or on a picnic at the time of the polls. There are also those motivated to vote by the highest bidders and those demotivated who abstain from voting.
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It is extremely rare to have a tie in elections. Hence only someone who tops with a clear cut majority vote count can truly be termed as a winner.
Utpal Parrikar has done pretty well for a first timer. He could even go in for recounting of votes as he has nothing to lose by doing so. It could definitively throw up some surprises. If one party supposedly got less turnover due to anti-party activity, it may also be said that the other got a larger turnover due to pro-religious patrimony. There are those who preach one set of commandments for a certain set of people and have another for another set of people; once again to the highest bidder.
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
TMC, AAP & RGP have split votes
The TMC, AAP and RGP in particular should be held solely responsible for successfully splitting the secular votes in most constituencies in the recent assembly election polls in the State and for bringing the BJP back to power for the third consecutive time in a row in Goa.
The way the above mentioned parties have gone to create havoc in most constituencies and splitting/eating the secular votes, it looks like these parties were indeed solely unleashed by the BJP bosses from Delhi to selectively defeat the Congress and to somehow bring the BJP back (which they have successfully done) to power by default in Goa.
The Congress party would have won more than 22 plus seats if the party bosses had given tickets for the right candidates this time and would have easily gone to form the next government on its own in Goa. It would have easily won the seats of Taleigao, Navelim, Cortalim, Dabolim, Velim, Curchorem, Benaulim, Sanquelim, etc, but due to the presence of candidates of the above mentioned parties/split in secular votes had to be content with just 11 seats and due to which will now have to sit in the opposition for the next five years in the Goa assembly.
I think that the Goa Pradesh Congress committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar in particular, instead of pretending to be sorry for the debacle of the Congress should now immediately resign from his prestigious post for deliberately giving tickets for some known BJP symphatisers/weak candidates at the behest of his mentor Digambar Kamat.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Congress needs an urgent overhaul
Overall, I am very disappointed with the results of the Goa Assembly Election. Yes there were vote splitters which overall benefited BJP, but the Congress party despite its long experience has clearly failed here in its strategic planning to mitigate the threat and in doing so, allowed the BJP to now get a 3rd term. Also, Congress was very weak as opposition in the erstwhile Goa Assembly and failed to take proper action on their defectors; which I think had a serious impact on the party at this recently concluded election.
If the Congress does not overhaul urgently they are set to be decimated in the very near future. The reason for BJP’s significant rise in Goa, is due to the high incompetence of the Senior Congress leadership! There are a few positives however, (1) It appears that a few credible Goans have got into the Assembly and I hope they deliver/fight for Goa. 2) For Benaulim in particular, after years of having in-competent MLAs, it appears that this time the constituency has voted for a more respectable and effective candidate.
I congratulate Venzy Viegas on his win. I hope he not only exceeds the expectations of Benaulimkars but also contributes big time to the sustainable progress of Goa and saving of its identity/environment!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Evacuate Goans if stranded in Ukraine
It is learnt that the last Goan student to be evacuated from Ukraine arrived in Delhi on an evacuation flight on Friday. He was reportedly flown in from Poland after he, along with other Indian students stuck in Sumy University, were assisted in reaching the border. In all 21 Goan students in the know have reportedly been evacuated for which Goans need to be grateful to the central government for the efforts put in. However, it is possible that besides the students there could also be other Goans who are stranded in the war-torn country and would want to return home.c
There could be Goans who have settled in Ukraine, businessmen who have made a trip to that country and have been caught in the war. A record of the stranded Goan students could have been easily available from the various universities in Ukraine. However, there may be no record of other Goans who are stranded there and would want to return home. There may be citizens in the State, who are in the know of Goans who are stranded in Ukraine and who wish to return home. This needs to be brought to the notice of the Goa NRI Commission at the earliest.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
If you can’t beat, join them
So what if unexpectedly flower bloomed, importantly we have fulfilled the constitutional right by participating in the Election, so be it, if the number game played the trick end of the day, we learn by our mistakes and become stronger. Yes, some did not sleep that night thinking “I am voting to bring good governance” or “I don’t care, I will vote being obedient for the party my parents feel proud of decades.”
Today our mind is saying, for 3 occasions it did not work, but it is OK no looking back, 2026 is not far away indeed it is a great attitude aligning to the subject statement and accept the verdict you and I have written for the term.
We should remember, it is the statement that the reality of the situation makes resistance futile. You can take the extreme and quit the party you believe in, or you can admit the battle is lost and drop the resistance, in effect joining the winners, in order to have the ability to fight another battle, another day without giving up faith and belief.
Therefore let’s believe, if you can’t beat them, join them. However, any lay voter or one who reads politics can say RG’s single win at St Andre is the most valuable as they fought without muscle or money power.
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Allow bureaucrats to work independently
The bureaucracy must be allowed to function independent of the political establishment. Only an independent bureaucracy can render the rule of law. The performance, character and role of the bureaucracy, depend on the social and political scenario around it.
The rule of law requires every government official to comply with the law at all times. Every executive action must have legal authorisation and no decision can contravene or violate a legal restriction.
Officers need to be encouraged to give their free and frank opinion. They should be at liberty to work out details and implement their decisions. The political and administrative wings of the Government together should pursue the path of progress by accommodating diverse viewpoints and interests without bias.
We have witnessed many IAS and IPS officers who have been sent packing overnight for not bowing down to politicians in power.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
