We know we have jumped from the frying pan into the fire, by dumping the Congress in 2012. The BJP which we voted to power is today perceived to have betrayed us for the past five years, on a series of issues including on legislation on choice to parents on the MoI issue and throwing casinos out of Goa. The sins of commission and omissions of both Congress and the BJP are well known to all Goans and thus I will restrict this essay towards garnering hopes and aspiration in the “alternatives” to the traditional political players on the “Goan electoral arena”.
“Once bitten, twice shy” goes the saying so before I place my eggs in any one basket, I would search, inquire and decide as to who should fit in the basket of “Goan aspiration and expectations”. As opposition, political parties in Goa have promised the electorate – the heavens or perhaps the moon. Looking ahead we have the Goa Forward Party, the Aam Aadmi Party and the GSM. MGP going alone would be interesting for Goans.
As far as GSM is concerned, it is a communal, casteist, divisive and an exploitative combination of forces, out to spread hatred and destroy the peace, prosperity and sustained growth of Goa in the pseudo garb of culture and the mother tongue boogie. Any Goan leaning towards GSM must be viewed with caution and care. Coming to Goa Forward (GF), I have high respect for Prabhakar Timble, whose rational and secular approach is a much desired attribute, required to bind Goa. Whether Timble’s wisdom, vision and actions ever reach the length and breadth of Goa is the question one needs to ponder on. As such with Naresh Sawal gone, Goa Forward with its limited and limiting resources would be struggling to stand its ground in mini-Salcete, particularly Fatorda, where Vijai Sardesai, would like to hold the Goa Forward fort.
Sadly, except for a few stray press conferences and TV exposures GF has not made its presence felt by aggressively opposing casinos, illegal grant of mining leases, supporting choice on MoI by joining hands with FORCE, to cash on the local and regional aspirations of Goans against Delhi centric parties. People of Goa like yatras, demonstrations, dharnas, hunger strikes, aggressive public meetings and presentation of a meaningful manifesto defining aim and objectives in a crystal clear manner. Being cash starved and trapped, it could find itself temptingly prone to the bids of corrupt politicians finding entry into its fold and as a result subject to suffer the same fate as to what wrong is happening to AAP in Delhi, provoking Anna Hazareji to take a dig on the functioning of AAP, a few weeks ago. All in all, Goa Forward looks like a party whose spirit is willing but its flesh is weak. Thus for the party to cut ice across the length and breadth of Goa would need aggressive campaigning by well meaning Goans over sustained period of time. Sadly three months would be extremely short for GF to win the confidence of the people.
Then we have the recently emerging AAP, which has made a significant dent on the minds of ordinary Goans after its spectacular victory in New Delhi and the disillusionment with the BJP performance in Goa. AAP came to Goa with a bang, gaining roots not only in Salcete but also in Tiswadi and Bardez. Sadly, today it is in the news for all the wrong reasons and this has caused a lot of concern amongst Goans. This fear must now be factored in as AAP in Delhi is in confrontation with the Centre.
It is good for AAP to gun for national recognition and the choice of Goa and Punjab is the right step in a positive direction. However, AAP leadership must be holistic and sustainable in its approach and ambition. It must be acknowledged that the keys of the door to the Goan political scenario was opened to AAP by Prashant Bhushan, Dr Yogendra Yadav and Remo Fernandes, with Dr Claude Alvares playing an active role to ensure that Advocate Bhushan succeeds in opening up the mining scam in Goa. Goans will never forget the roles played by Goa Foundation and AAP founder Adv Bhushan. While it is appreciated that Kejriwal is taking on Prime Minister Modi, Goans would be grateful to him if he walks an extra mile to ensure Dr Alvares, Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav join forces. Kejriwal is an intelligent leader, a believer in Mother Teresa’s work. AAP has a long way to go, particularly in Goa.
Goans are watching all the political forces. Will Congress give us back our values? Will AAP screen candidates judiciously? Will Goa Forward reach out aggressively across the length and breadth of Goa? Or will BJP succeed in dividing its opposition forces and come back? Goans today want a strong local leadership away from outstation high command. Goans seem to forget that the clock has turned a full circle. In the early 1960s, Goans rejected the national parties and gave Bahusaheb Bandodkar and MGP seventeen years of continuous rule. Sudin Dhavlikar has steered the MGP ship clearly off controversies and has attracted some sitting MLAs and a host of ex-MGP MLAs are venturing to support the regional aspirations. This is no fluke or a dream.
