Looking at the political scene unfolding during the last couple of months, it appears abundantly clear that the tiny state of Goa is caught in the net of a headless, rudderless and futureless cabinet. Constitutionally speaking, collective responsibility of cabinet and collective decision-making is reduced to a farce. Governance is on pause and the legislators, politicians, political parties and bureaucrats are playing games bringing parliamentary democracy and Goa into disrepute. The Head of State i.e. the Governor is presiding over this drama devoid of constitutional morality and ethics as if “all is well”.
One of the alliance partners of the present government has demanded a permanent solution to the impasse which actually means a new incumbent to the post of Chief Minister. Another alliance partner is not averse to a temporary resolution in terms of some functional working arrangement of officiating Chief Minister. The major Opposition party has filed an interlocutory application with the Governor to provide an opportunity to form a new government. The BJP, the party in power, is trying different permutations to stay in office and is unable to offer any solution acceptable to their legislators first and alliance partners later. None want dissolution of the State assembly and fresh elections at this stage. It looks that BJP is buying time to strengthen its cadres and toying with the idea of fresh elections either along with the 2019 parliamentary polls or immediately later on assessment of the outcome of national elections.
Face facts
The picture is actually clear but none wants to accept and share the factual status. The Chief Minister is critically unwell and unable to lead though a façade is created of the CM clearing files from hospital bed at AIIMS, New Delhi. People understand the gimmicks of dashing letter to the Union Minister for Mines to create the artifice that CM is keenly monitoring. Even after the recovery that all pray for, the present incumbent would not be in physical and mental health to lead the cabinet. There is no possibility of any alternative acceptable to both BJP and allies cum independents supporting the government as all are political chess players. If given a chance, which is the rarest of rare possibility, the Congress would get the numbers to form the government because the other players will have no hesitation to switch sides for higher pay-offs. With a proven record of partisan Governor and BJP government at Centre, it would be an attempt to commit suicide on the part of the Congress to form a government and more particularly in the present scenario when BJP and supporting allies are in a position of gross disadvantage to face the electorate.
The dropping of two ministers, whose current health condition is critical making them non-functional, is a petty intervention. They had surpassed expiry dates much earlier and should have resigned with grace. This is an act of window dressing and attempt to pull wool over the most primary issue. Though, it has caused some heart burns within the BJP, it’s a temporary phase, overall it will not be a net incremental loss to the BJP. Except a minister from the alliance partner GFP, there was none from the BJP for South Goa. This imbalance is something which BJP could ill afford for parliamentary and also for the imminent assembly elections.
The most significant issue is to provide an incumbent to the headless and rudderless cabinet. We need to admit that Goa does not have a Chief Minister in practice for over three months. Government without regular cabinet meetings is unheard. The BJP is setting disgusting precedents to cling to power. Cosmetic changes of dropping and adding of Ministers may give a little extended life to current BJP government. But, whether it is parliamentary elections or premature Goa Assembly elections, it is disadvantage BJP and alliance partners. The Congress should stay silent and allow the ruling to score more self-goals.
Restore Parrikar’s
honour
I condemn the BJP local and national leadership including the alliance partners for not providing an honorable exit to a person battling with sickness which is probably irreversible. If at all anybody is playing politics with sickness of Manohar Parrikar, it is BJP and alliance partners, not the Congress or Opposition.
The macro picture is of BJP devoid of values and concern for basic human sentiments. They are projecting their vice for power as virtue and political wisdom. They would do well if they can give an alternative Chief Minister. My sincere appeal to BJP is to respect the self-esteem of Manohar Parrikar. Goans desire to remember him as a studied parliamentarian, strong Opposition leader, committed Chief Minister, a Defence Minister who made Goa proud and a politician who can bend to win considering the larger good. This image should not be sullied or wrapped in an envelope where Manohar Parrikar is seen as a person who is hungry to retain power even after being administered series of chemotherapy rounds.
At IIT Roorkee, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said “Let me tell you, I never anticipated joining politics. I was the one sitting by the side of the river and someone pushed me from behind into it. Addressing a local media function, he said that entering politics had not been his wish and he would quit if he found that he was not worthy of staying in politics anymore. In another interview to a national news TV channel, Parrikar said that when he had entered politics, he had decided to quit it in ten years.
The BJP should not coerce our Manohar Parrikar to convince Goans that this game to stay in the boots of Chief Minister is actually not a vice but a mature political virtue. This discolours the lifetime achievements of Parrikar and no statue or posthumous recognitions would compensate the loss.
(The writer is an educationist and political commentator)
