The BJP has fully asserted itself in the cabinet formation exercise. More than the number of ministers who were inducted into the cabinet; it was the way the cabinet formation exercise was done sends a clear message that the BJP this time has decided to assert itself completely vis-à-vis its relationship with its allies.
Vishwajit Rane is indeed number two and Mauvin Godinho the number 3, but it’s very clear who the number 1 is. So, there is a clear line between the leader Pramod Sawant and his senior-most leadership team of Rane and Godinho followed by the ministers. The presence of Modi and some of his cabinet colleagues including Nitin Gadkari and CMs of most BJP governed states, was an indication that the Pramod Sawant government has been – in the language of twitter – verified with a double blue tick.
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With a clear mandate, the BJP can well afford to make this into a BJP government first and not a BJP-led government. It may be recalled that though the party was just one short of majority it has the three Independents and the MGP with two MLAs supporting it.
Yet the BJP did not rush in to induct Sudin Dhavalikar who is still hopefully waiting to be a minister. On the contrary, by giving three ministerial berths to BJP MLAs from Ponda taluka, it has sent a strong message that even when it comes to the politics of regions within Goa, the BJP doesn’t want non-party satraps dominating a particular region of the State. The BJP can afford not to give Dhavalikar but his other MLA Jit Arolkar a cabinet berth without affecting the MGPs support for it
At the swearing-in ceremony both Dhavalikar and Independent like Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Dr Chandrakant Shetye found themselves on the front row of the VIP guest list and not on the dais, as chosen ministers.
Make this a government of the people and totally inclusive
However, with such a strong position that it finds itself in at this point in time, it should fully deliver governance and project itself as a party for all. Each minister should perform his duty for all of Goa. One of the lines in the oath that each cabinet minister takes states, “I will do right to all manner of people”. This is an extremely important line that slips from the mind of the public and even perhaps to those who are taking the oath. The Sawant government must simply do right to all manner of people.
Doing right to all manner of people is fundamental to democratic and ministerial functioning. One of the key things that will be watched by the people is whether the ministers work and give benefit to their own constituencies, projects, jobs, etc. or do they function as ministers for the entire state of Goa. People will be particularly watching if that happens especially in departments like Health, Power & PWD.
Development can’t be proportional to the MLA’s political affiliations
The essence of every government is inclusiveness. The cabinet has been formed strategically to score political points, but the success of this government will lie in whether or not they manage to spread the message that it will be a people-first government. To do that, all sections of society need to be taken into account, all voices need to be heard. Development cannot be proportional to the affiliation of the MLA in each constituency. Simply put, an AAP MLA or a Congress MLA should get the same amount of support that the BJP MLA gets in order to help them do their duty.
There are many issues that need to be looked at urgently. What is coming to mind immediately are the many People vs Government conflicts, whether it be the issue regarding the Western bypass in South Goa, issues faced by farmers, or the plight of those whose lands have been taken away to build the link road to the Mopa airport, a project which has usurped not just their land but their forest and their cash crops and thereby their revenue, or the filling of fields of the farmers of Pissurlem with mining mud, which led to the brutal assault of one of the farmers or for that matter, the whole issues of mining trucks passing through Mayem. All these are crucial people’s issues and need urgent intervention.
The drug menace and the loud parties in the northern coastal belt have raised their ugly head and journalists raising them have faced the brunt of very grave threats and choicest of abuses.
Herald has been in the forefront of these coverages showing that Herald isn’t the enemy of anyone except those who break the law and destroy the Constitution and has been the constant friend and supporter of all voices raised for the sake of Goa.
This is a government with a lot of potential and the mandate and the resources to achieve it. These are privileges that must be used to serve all the people of Goa.
