In a few months from now Goans will be asking to elect their leaders for another five-year term. This will be present with what seems to be a Hobson’s choice, to voters. We have a constitutional duty to vote so vote we must, even if “none of the above” (NOTA) is not an option.
Five years ago, the electorate dismissed the then Congress government because of what was considered utter failure on their part to reign in their leaders and stem the rampant corruption. The irony is that even today they have not been able to get their act together and present a new vision to the electorate. In five years in exile they could not identify 40 new faces to represent the party. People popularly known as grandfathers continue to call the shots. A saving grace is the fact that they have taken a decision to go “solo” and that has to be commended even if it is pretty late in the day.
Going “solo” should not be an option, how can they consider joining hands with say the NCP whose raison d’etre was to stop a foreign-born becoming the Prime Minister or in other words give the NCP leader Sharad Pawar a shot at becoming PM. The two sides of the same coin. Does the NCP have anything in terms of ideology which is common to the ideology of the Congress. But ideology does not seem to be an issue or a factor when creating fronts. The most important factor in deciding a front is, if together the front can corner enough seats so as to either form the Government or become a king maker and reap the spoils of an electoral battle. These usually include ministership of a plumb portfolio or Chairmanship of some Corporation which will ensure car and driver and a place to employ some supporters.
The BJP had come to power promising better governance and “zero tolerance to corruption”. The fact is that almost four and a half years later not a single case of corruption has been unearthed. This leads one to believe that one of two possibilities exist, there was no corruption by the then Congress government which every citizen knows to be untrue. Two, the cases were used as a Damocles sword to suppress the Congress into silence as could be seen from their performance in the assembly. So is the BJP really different?
There were many U-turns, promises made but either the decision postponed or they blamed the Congress for not being able to honor their promise. Surely in such a situation the issues could have been debated in the assembly and solutions worked out, the Congress themselves say they made a mistake where casinos are concerned, surely they would have supported decisions which would have allowed them to make amends? Or it would have shown if the Congress was bluffing knowing the BJP did not want to honour their promise.
You can love or hate the new kid on the block (now there are so many new kids) but you cannot ignore AAP. Every national or regional party honcho cannot complete their speech without attempting a negative reference to AAP. They have from day one stated their intention of contesting all 40 seats and till now they have announce almost 25 candidates. They are clear that the candidate per se is not the key, the party manifesto is and so are spending lots of time making it.
The Shiv Sena who is looking to open their electoral account must have felt ignored when mainstream parties took potshots at AAP national leaders visits but ignored the fact their leader from Maharashtra was also in Goa. They have announced a tie-up with the anti-English offshoot of the breakaway RSS group. Wonder what they have in common. Has the Sena decided mother tongue in Konkani and not English is the way forward in Goa? What about Marathi, different strokes for different States?
Then there is Goenkarponn and Goa Forward. Surely a concept that Goa can do with. But why only 4 or 5 seats. Why look for a tie-up with NCP and be disappointed that the Congress is not willing to play ball. How are these tie-ups going to address the issue of bringing back Goenkarpon to Goa? Is it that the remaining constituencies in Goa can do without Goenkarpon?
Last but not the least are the independents. Some are genuinely independent and have acted as such, hope they stay that way. Others are independent till one or the other party offers a ticket. So there is no question of principles just permanent self interest.
So every responsible voter should start reading the signs on the wall, see the intent behind the logic of actions and utterances from now on right upto the final voting day. Remember we need our representatives who can in the assembly discuss issues effecting Goa and offer solutions to the same after taking their constituents into confidence. Not hot-mix a road or inaugurate a transformer on their birthday and call it development, it is not…that is self development. Hot-mixing or inaugurating a public park or building built from public funds cannot be treated as the elected leaders private property being gifted to the citizens.
Sadguru gave a perspective of Satyagraha and Gandhi. Satyagraha was done in a time when the country was ruled by foreigners so it was the proper response at that time. Today, if a leader announces a bandh he is actually stopping the progress and should be shown the door as soon as possible. We need leaders who can come up with solutions that take Goa/India forward.
Choosing them is in your hands. Vote wisely.
(The author prefers to write rather than
chat in a balcao)
