Even before Herald can reach many of its readers, or at least before this column is read by some, the fate of the aspirants to our Legislative Assembly would, or to put it better, the fate of our most beloved State would have been sealed. It should have always been our real and sincere concern and endeavour to select and elect the right people, not alone because they would be our representatives but also because they are the ones who will legislate or make laws, which in the short or long run will affect us and our State. They ought to be people who would honour us by their performance. But, when the choice before us is often, of candidates, whose educational background is below than that of a peon in a Govt. office or a Bank and hence unable to understand what a law is and much less its implications, we can only expect MLAs who would shame us, as most have done, particularly in the last few decades.
We surely failed to use the golden opportunity of anti-incumbency to come together to defeat the forces of destruction. It wouldn’t have been difficult to predict today’s results had we put up a united front against the ruling dispensation. But that was not possible, because our egos were too big to be sacrificed for our little Goa. Now, we can only hope that we have not, to our eternal regret, failed Goa for good. Hopefully, the results will not throw in some unpleasant surprises, where deserving candidates have lost by small margins, due to split of votes. We need to await with bated breath the finality of the drama, which will be enacted today. In no other day would Goa have seen so much currency changing hands. We all know which Party can afford these and also use agencies and institutions to blackmail and keep swords hanging over people’s heads or even block funds for development. It’s today that we will judge those whom we have elected – whether they will keep Goa above their personal interests and ambitions or whether they will buckle under pressure from the mighty and powerful and betray their voters.
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On 25th last, in these columns, a respected ex-teacher of Fatima Convent, Margao Yvette Dias Barros, suggested tough postures by right thinking citizens and the electorate in general, against people who betray the voters’ mandate, so as “to rid ourselves permanently of this disgusting malaise”. “If our vote is disrespected, surely our disrespectors must, most certainly be taught the most bitter lessons of their life” she added with similar opinions being voiced by several outspoken and well known individuals in videos and WhatsApp groups. Such suggestions must not remain in social and print media, but must be implemented in right earnest to humiliate those who dare betray the electorate. Hopefully, this situation may not arise after pledges taken on oath, in temples and churches, and affidavits sworn by many candidates. They do not fear us. However, should it still happen, Goans must rise and with the support and active collaboration of voters from the constituencies of the traitors, resort to some non-violent methods of shaming them and not rest until their MLA resigns. With the recent decision of the High Court on the defections of 2019, the traitors will be emboldened for an encore which can only be countered by the people. Future MLAs must understand that Goans expect them to honour and respect the mandate given to them by their voters. Their patience and levels of tolerance must not be tested, as they are no more in mood to watch betrayals on one pretext or the other. But, should they happen, the consequences could be far reaching and never anticipated.
Not only Goa, but the entire country has been witnessing the worst. Important institutions, designed at maintaining decorum, law and order and correcting and punishing erring individuals and organizations, are being compromised. Hundreds of elected representatives are being lured into joining the ruling bandwagon on promises of cases and charges against them either being dropped or delayed. And this is unfortunately happening with connivance of those against whom nothing can be said. I had earlier lamented that we did not have T N Seshans, the unforgettable ECI, any more. The role of some Election Commissions, which followed him, has been extremely controversial. Accusations about tampering and theft of EVMs and postal ballots being cast, under duress in presence of ruling Party workers, are regularly being leveled. Earlier, in Assam, EVMs were found in the car of a BJP legislator just two days back, EVM theft was alleged in UP and opening of sealed ballot box in Mapusa. In Goa, while publication was done of sections of law under which candidates were charged, the other condition imposed by CEC Sushil Chandra that “Political parties will also have to give reasons why they have chosen the candidate and why they could not find a clean candidate,” was, to my knowledge, not enforced. Elections in States like Goa, which had single day polling could have been held closer to result date, thus diminishing suspicions about tampering with EVMs and the ECI being compromised.
Lastly, a serious thought, though it may appear irrelevant here: can we, Goans, take a leaf from the heroism, patriotism and love of the land displayed in ample measure by Ukrainians and especially their President Zelenskyy, who with grit and courage are putting up a brave front against mighty Russia?
(The author is a retired banker)
