The rupee campaign
Ahva D’Souzaa
The count for the political D-day in on and the politics of votes has taken a front seat. Despite the election code of conduct in place, this has not stopped politicians from doling out gifts to their voters in their respective constituencies to influence them. And they’re not being shy about it. Elections mean business.
You spend. You win. Then you recover. No rules, no regulations. Spend money and buy votes is the policy of politicians. The more you spend, the higher are your chances of winning. The larger the number of votes the politician gets the greater are his chances of sitting at the negotiating table. But, whichever way you look at it, it is public money that they make in power which is being spent to buy votes.
Whether or not there is a Code of conduct, for voters it is time to take the most from the candidates. People, institutes, places of worship et al have become what we call “Leovttem” in Konkani. Whatever they get, money, sarees, liquor, pilgrimages to holy places, water tanks, painting of buildings, offerings to temples, churches, mosques, etc they lap it all up. Recently a MLA offered Rs 5,000 to each member of the Mahila Mandals of his constituency. The women hurried to enroll themselves in the mahila mandals which till some time ago struggling to get member. Families have been receiving Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 via this move. One can look at it in two ways: women power or money power.
While most would argue these are goodies for the vulnerable poor, I disagree. A disturbing trend being witnessed is of the educated middle-class falling prey to such lures. The educated middle-class vote, which is also known as a ‘thinking vote’, is the last bastion of hope towards restoration of real democracy. This bastion too may succumb, if we don’t vote responsibly, Goa is going to the dogs.
Deals like these are taking place under the very nose of the Election Commission of India (EC) despite them taking stringent action against the candidates. While the EC is satisfied with confiscating an odd truck load of liquor etc, it has never mentioned the names of candidate(s) responsible for doling out the goods. Why have the names of candidates under the scanner not revealed by the EC? It does give rise to doubt then that the nexus extends to them too. In Goa everyone knows everything about the goodies being doled out, except the EC. The election governing machinery needs to step up their vigil.
At the end we should realize that money is not the criteria. It is the overall development of the state that matters. Goa can be an example for other states in India. If only we clean up our act! While the politicians spend our tax money on vote-buying for their eventual benefit, we have to understand that it is in our control whom we choose to vote for.
Goa needs change. It has had enough of manipulation of RP 2012, conversions of agricultural land, corruption etc. At the end of the day we should realise that money cannot be eaten. It is development with responsibility that matters to the people of Goa. Get up, Stand up and Be counted. God Bless Goa.
