Many have accused Vijai Sardesai of a Himalayan BETRAYAL. Did anyone pause to think about why Vijai did what he did? And its implications?
Let’s understand the background. Vijai was groomed in the Congress tradition. He held several party positions. In 2012, he was, at the last minute, denied a ticket. He rebelled and contested as an Independent. There was not a murmur of protest. He won. The Congress nominee lost his deposit. Vijay eventually mentored the Goa Forward Party and approached voters with his Goem, Goemkar, Goemkarponn slogan.
At no point of time did he swear support to the Congress Party. So what, or whose, betrayal are we talking about?
And pray, may I ask, what happened in the run-up to the elections? An understanding was reached with the High Command in Delhi that Congress would not field a candidate in Fatorda. About an hour from the close of filing nominations, Congress fielded a candidate who had already filed a nomination of another party earlier the same day!
Forget who betrayed whom, was it not clear that by fielding its own candidate the Congress did not need Vijai’s support? So why does Congress shamelessly and opportunistically seek his support now? Let’s not talk of betrayals. Vijai is no Jesus Christ, when Congress betrayed him by fielding a last-minute candidate, Vijai did not turn the other cheek. He hit back, tit for tat. And deservedly so.
By supporting the 13-member BJP group, did Vijai make a U-turn on his secular credentials? Who are the 13? More than half of them, or 7 of 13, are Goan Catholics. When more than 50% or the majority in the elected group are Catholic, what communalism are we talking about?
Vijai decided to align with the party that received the larger share of support of the electorate … BJP’s 32% as against Congress’ 27% … for two unassailable reasons.
Between the devil and the deep sea, Congress had 17 elects of whom 14 are ministers and chief ministers in waiting, with no space left for any alliance partners. One entire day, even a secret ballot, could not produce a CM. How long could such a government last? One month, two months? On the other hand were 13 elects of whom barely six could be aspirants. Which government could be hoped to last longer?
The second reason, and a crucial one for Goa. With Goa’s finances in neck-deep debt, can any government, besides paying salaries and pensions, hope to function without the support from Delhi? Does it take a genius to figure out which local government alone could be on the right side of Delhi? And, pertinently, by joining such a government, did Vijai betray his Goem, Goemkar, Goemkarponn? How?
