We cannot be mere consumers of good governance, we must be active participants. There comes a time when silence is betrayal. Democracy in India today faces an existential crises as it navigates the turbulence created by the forces of Hindu majoritarianism who are in pursuit of a Hindu Rashtra. The world’s largest democracy has in recent years been reduced to an “Electoral Autocracy” by a highly centralised communal apparatus and leadership. We have entered into an era of lumpen communal politics. The Bajrang Dal which has entered Goan politics went on boldly to state at a recent public/political gathering that their purpose of contest was to exhibit to people “the strength of the Hindus”. Frightening but true, the kind of politicians we have today have mastered the art of deceit and are like a jug full of poison with milk on top.
In 2017, the number of those who voted in Goa was a record high of 81.4%. What did the MLAs do? They moved en masse to the BJP against the wish of their voters. The link between the represented and representative, the core feature of democracy was fundamentally broken. Every election is made up by the people who think, show up and vote. In an election every vote is precious and counts. Our vote is our voice and our choices should be a reflection of our hopes not fears. Corrupt, communal and non-performing governments are brought to power because of people’s affirmative choice. Our vote is the most powerful non-violent tool we have at our disposal in our societies so as to exercise desired change, and we must use it. The ignorance and neglect of even a single voter in a democracy can impair the security of all.
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In the wake of the forthcoming elections we have had several national leaders set their foot print on Goan soil. Only a few days ago Chidambaram a Sr Congress leader roared a message to the world at large – “Whoever wins Goa in 2022; wins India in 2024”. Adding to this confusion the tiny State of Goa now witnesses the entry of “Durga” from East with the TMC throwing its hat in the ring of Goan politics. But, Durga has yet to descend in Goa. As a precursor to her entry she has sent her ‘Trishul’ spearheaded by Prashant Kishor, MP Prasun Banerjee and MP O’Brien. Kishor will be responsible for all operations of the TMC in Goa.
A few months from now Goa goes to the poll. The writing is on the wall. People of Goa are unhappy with the continuous betrayal of our political representatives. They want a new government with new faces? Who is going to harvest the anger of the people? There awaits for every Goan a buffet of recycled politicians who have been jumping from one party to another. Many of us have at some time or the other experienced an upset stomach and food poison after partaking in a buffet where stale food is mixed with the fresh. Buffet politics and politicians in Goa have developed a new dance style ‘The election hop’ where old wine is packaged in new bottles. Be sure this political hip-hop will continue till the 9th hour. Stale food is dangerous and unhealthy to our body. Similarly recycled and repackaged politicians are dangerous to the health of a democracy.
Forty-four-year-old PK looked upon as the youngest dynamo in politics is a sought after election strategist, who gained public attention when he created the election campaign group “Citizens for Accountable Governance” (CAG), which helped the BJP to win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with an absolute majority. Post 2014, he converted CAG into Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). In 2020 he was the strategist for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the legislative Assembly election where the party was able to win with a majority of 62 out of 70 seats. We have a victorious M K Stalin in Tamil Nadu and Mamata in West Bengal courtesy the election strategies of PK. After the win of TMC and DMK in the 2021 assembly polls, PK declared that he was quitting as an election strategist. In several interviews on TV channels Kishore said “I do not want to continue what I am doing. I have done enough. Time for me to take a break and do something else in life. I want to quit this space and enter a new space.”
What is the USP of IPAC? As a political strategist PK with his army of volunteers and employees (1) Identifies burning issues that plague a state (2) He figures out the best Principle to plug these issues and put out the flames (3) He then moves on to Application/Action mode (4) He finally Concludes with a strategy. This is how I-PAC strategises. PK says rotten eggs must be left outside the doorstep of a party if they want to win and new blood (dialysis) must be injected into the party. The rotten eggs which he refers to as garbage musts be left for vultures to come and feed on. Rotten eggs in a party according to PK only leads to gradual if not rapid collapse. PK seems to have abandoned this strategy in Goa for reasons best known to him. And where are the Durgas of Goa? They are yet to show face on the Reel of TMC? Viva Goa! Viva Durga! Viva Goa Elections 2022.
(The writer is a social scientist and a practising criminal lawyer).
