What lies ahead?
EUGENE CORREIA
As the year drew to a close, the Vishnu Wagh incident where he was beaten up allegedly by members of his own party, sums up what ‘s wrong with Goa’s politics. The MLA has been a thorn in the BJP’s side and his verbal outbursts has made the party nervous, more so those who held power. His fight and his predicament of which way to turn, perhaps for some political gain, is the same of those in the forefront of making Goa a better place to live and work in. But like many others who left the Congress to jump on the BJP bandwagon, Wagh may not be further welcomed into the Congress. Joining the Aam Admi Party (AAP), if he’s welcome, can be an option for him in the current circumstances. Or he can start another party as plodding alone in Goa’s political scenario can be a losing proposition.
The AAP could be a thorn in BJP’s side. The party has come out flying in Delhi and has staked a claim to the MP seats in North and South Goa. If the party succeeds, there could be a new thrust in Goa’s politics. It could spring a surprise if its candidates defeat the sitting MPs, just as it sprung a surprise by ousting the Congress government in Delhi.
AAP has on board two faces that are easily recognizable in Goa–that of popular singer Remo Fernandes and activist Dr Oscar Rebello. The latter has earned some political stripes and public admiration. Remo’s disdain for politicians is wellknown through his album “Politicians don’t know how to rock ‘n’ roll.” If the AAP nominates him as a candidate for one of the Lok Sabha seats and he wins, then perhaps he would be fully a politician. Can he then “rock” Goa’s politics? It’s sometimes necessary to be inside politics to change politics. Let’s remember what US President Lyndon B Johnson said during the civil struggle, “It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”
Politics can be strange. Political pundits and those who are anti-AAP are awaiting the results of Arvind Kejriwal’s many promises, including making Indian politics corruption free and introducing better governance. The AAP is a new twist to Goa’s politics. Where it goes depends upon its success in making inroads into the public mind and heart. Dr Oscar Rebello has said that AAP should take up the regional plan. The development of Goa is the way ahead for any party that comes to power. How to go about it should be the priority for such a party. Would the AAP take away the supporters of The United Goans Democratic Party (UDGP) and the Su-Raaj party, both heralded as local entities? No doubt the UGDP was a potent opposing force at one time but it has lost its sting, though some electoral success has kept its flag flying. The “third space” in Goa’s politics that these parties occupied may well be gone in the new hands of the AAP.
Groups such as the newly formed Goa for Goans (GFG) and the Save Goa Front (SGF), which contested the elections, may lose their already tenuous influence in Goa. Whatever comes in the future, the AAP presence in Goa may have sent shivers down the spine of such parties and groups as well as put the national parties on notice. The winds of change that blew over Delhi should come down Goa’s way. To cleanse the Goa government’s augean stables is of prime importance. The Manohar Parrikar government has failed so far to live up to expectations and it’s unlikely the Congress can make any significant inroads. It has injected John Fernandes, a former Rajya Sabha MP, into its bloodstream. Fernandes is no “newbie” to Goa’s politics but he’s been in the shadows for too long, only occasionally making his voice heard. The Congress, it seems, wanted an uncontroversial person at the helm, and Fernandes fitted the bill. But will he wield real power in a party dominated by those who have been former chief ministers and ministers? Some of its MLAs behave like “chotta nawabs” and run their constituencies with unchastened power. The Congress High Command has turned a Nelson’s eye to the abuse of these Congressmen. But Rahul Gandhi has set the ball rolling to make Congress the party it once was and may be to steal a march over AAP in the fight against corruption, which is endemic in India.
Goa’s economy may have been shattered and the all-powerful Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has requested the centre to come to the aid of Goa. In hindsight, one has to consider what J C Almedia, former chief secretary, noted that Pratapsing Rane, then the CM, gave wrong financial statements to the Rajiv Gandhi government at the centre. Now the chicken has come home to roost. Mining gave Goa the fuel for sustenance but it also made those connected to it rich manifold. Some of them were involved in illegal mining. Now that the mining rug has been pulled from under the economy, tourism, in whatever degrading form it currently lies in, can help Goa survive and prod along. Parrikar himself started by saying he wanted to clean up mining and now that the financial state of Goa is biting hard at its pockets, he pleads that it be restarted.
Playing politics, as Congress holds the whiphand at the centre, doesn’t go down well for the people at large. No one seems certain what lies in the future. Politicians wag eloquently, for that’s their suo moto right. The last year has been bad, financially and in other political aspects, and Parrikar has noted that the state can tide over its financial quagmire. But words mean nothing when reality shows otherwise.
