Goa has seen a flurry of political activities in the recent past probably like never before. As many as three Congress MLAs have quit the party and joined the BJP. While Vishwajit Rane has won the by-poll, the other two MLAs from Shiroda and Mandrem wait for the outcome of the by-polls in their constituencies. Now two MLAs have resigned from MGP and joined the BJP. All these political developments raise one pertinent question. Does party ideology assume any significance in the present day politics? Goans are witnessing political moves of the lowest order. There seems to be no moral ethics left. Greed for power has taken over party ideology and faithfulness to the parent party. All this has put the electorate in a dilemma. Does the voter vote for a political party or the individual candidate belonging to a particular party?
It surprises to see how a politician who has seen his/her political career grow in a political party can switch over to another party overnight which could have diametrically opposite ideology. It must be said that the only winning candidate who has the right to join or support any other political party is the independent candidate. Others need to stick to their parent party. But this is more easily said than done. Some politicians excel in party hopping and may have changed several parties in their political careers. Those politicians not in power could be changing their party if denied the party ticket to contest the elections and join another party which promises it the ticket to contest the elections. Those in the opposition could be jumping to another party in order to become a minister in the ruling dispensation or a minister in the ruling alliance could be quitting the parent party in order to get a more plum posting as has been the present case of the two MGP MLAs who have ditched the party.
It all boils down to what the particular politician stands to gain from the switchover. The oft repeated reason given for quitting the parent party is to develop their respective constituency. The party ideology and all that the party stands for is forgotten overnight. Politicians are willing to take even the drastic step of giving up the membership of the legislative assemble and face by-polls while changing their party. There have been instances wherein party-hopping politicians have lost the by-elections.
They have obviously realised a little bit too late that they cannot take the electorate for granted. In all this the ultimate sufferer is the common man as elections are thrust on them at a disturbing frequency which is also a burden on the state-exchequer. It would be desirable to enact a law wherein the politician who resigns and contest the elections again is made to bear the cost of the by-elections. This could go a long way in putting an end to all the party-hopping.
All said and done it makes no sense for a candidate to contest the elections on a party symbol if he/she is going to quit the party for personal gains. In a way it is also an insult to the electorate.
