PANJIM Many would think it’s time to amend Nehru’s infamous saying about Goans “Ajeeb hain Goa ke log” to “Ajeeb hain Goa ke MLA” (From ‘strange are the people of Goa’ to ‘strange are the MLAs of Goa)
But even by Goa’s standards, the MLAs of the outgoing assembly have surpassed themselves in party hopping. On a lighter note, the great annual Masai Mara migration of beasts from Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya would pale into insignificance in comparison to the migration of Goan MLAs
For the first time in the history of the Goa Assembly 15 people’s representatives have resigned as MLAs to change parties. In addition, Churchill Alemao also changed parties to TMC and effectively became the 16th MLA to switch over during the tenure of the Goa, Daman, and Diu Legislative Assembly and even Post Statehood, there were few such crossovers. Today, 37.5% of the MLAs of Goa have resigned from the Goa Assembly since September 27, 2021. Most of the MLAs who resigned, either changed parties to join the ruling party or were denied tickets by their own party. The spate of resignations that have followed from September 27 are as follows:
In the past ideology mattered
During the Goa, Daman, and Diu Legislative Assembly, especially in the years following the Liberation of Goa, when the issue of Merger of Goa with Maharashtra dominated Goan politics, MLAs were faithful to their party Ideologies –merger and Marathi as an official language or maintaining the identity of Goa and Konkani. The sharp divide prevented MLAs from crossing over also because there were only two major political parties –MGP and UGP.
After Goa became a state, floodgates of defection were opened
Even after the Congress came to power in 1980 the predominantly two-party system was maintained with the Congress and MGP. Even then, crossing the floor was extremely difficult. Thirdly, all ministry changes had to be approved by the Centre under Union Territory. However, after Goa became a State in 1987 and the first State Assembly Elections were held in 1989, the floodgates for defections were opened.
Today, with the death of ideology, and even cadre-based parties such as the BJP abandoning their ideology, and shifting to power-dominated politics and winnability, floor-crossing has become the highest aspiration of elected representatives, caring two hoots for the mandate of the people.
In a state with small numbers, the Anti-Defection law has been merrily subverted
With the tightening of the Anti-Defection Law, MLAs have now had to resign from the Legislature to change sides and therefore the high number of
resignations from the membership of the House to enable them to changeover. However, in a small state such as Goa the amended Anti Defection Law has been circumvented by the 10 Congress MLAs who crossed over to the BJP and by the MGP where two MLAs out of three crossed over to the BJP and the lone NCP MLA Churchill Alemao merged his party’s Legislature Wing with the TMC.
Goa’s records: First Disqualified Chief Minister, the First Disqualified Speaker, the First Requalified Chief Minister
Sadly, Goa has held various records in the practice (or violation) of Parliamentary democracy under the Anti Defection Law or the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, such as having the First Disqualified Chief Minister, the First Disqualified Speaker, the First Requalified Chief Minister, frequent and mass defections and now the largest number of resignations during an assembly term.
