Today is the second anniversary of Goa’s day of betrayal; a day that brings down other celebrated days in Goa’s history like June 18 or December 19. We have spoken about this day that no one looks forward to but no one can ever forget. A day (July 10, 2019) when 10 Congress MLAs – out of the blue – decided to backstab, and join the BJP. While we have raised this often enough, on this day let’s look at those who can now be potential betrayers. As we get into election mode innocent Goans must make themselves aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Who are the wolves in sheep’s clothing?
They will tell you that they are with the people in their fight for justice and rights, against the ruling government. They will tell you they are against the policies of the government and will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people to oppose them. They will accuse the ruling party and hold press conferences against them. Some of them may even have been a cheerleader and a part of the ruling dispensation earlier. Some may even explain why they could not be with the people earlier but will not explain how they made money while in power when their people became poorer.
And the first sign that people are getting poorer is when they migrate to other countries for jobs. Remember who has done this?
AND THAT MEANS THOSE WHO ARE RULING HAVE FAILED
And finally, there will be some who will express deep regret for their past actions, of not being with people but with power.
Right thinking Goans must know that in this lot of people and parties, vying for the opposition space, there are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are the ones who know if the opposition space is cluttered; votes will split, giving BJP an easy walkover in the next elections. Some are wolves because they think they will be strong enough to override any split and consolidate all votes in their favour, but at the end that will not happen and the ruling party will be back.
And the worst kind are those who are secretly backed by the ruling dispensation, even from now, especially in South Goa, so that they stand as Independents, where the BJP will not field a candidate.
The BJP’s only hope in 2022 is the success of these wolves in sheep’s clothing and there are many
This is the BJP’s biggest hope. It is also its only hope. The people of Goa who want a people’s government must recognise these wolves.
IF THERE IS A COMMON POLITICAL ENEMY, THEN WHY ARE THE FORCES CHALLENGING THE ENEMY, WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER
What are the signs that these forces are already at work? Well, look carefully. If the plan is to have a direct contest with the ruling party, why are there a multitude of parties and forces all with the same goal, yet with different agendas? And even within this space, there are groups and parties openly speaking against each other with some accusing the other (perhaps rightly) of being the B team of the BJP.
Goans therefore have to identify these forces and how do you do that. There is only one way, which is the only way:
Goans from villages and towns must choose their own candidates i.e PEOPLE’S CANDIDATES
Why should political parties choose their candidates without consulting you and impose their own choice and tell you that this is “your” candidate. If it is your candidate, then shouldn’t you have a say in that choice? If a people’s candidate is needed for change, for betterment, for keeping villages and towns protected from coal dust, for their fields to be free of construction debris, for local professions and skills to be protected, to have contracts for major events given to locals, for mega projects that suck your groundwater and cut your hills, to be banned from your pristine areas, then there should be “people chosen candidates”.
You can’t have a party chosen candidate and call him or her people chosen. Then that candidate has a very chance of being that wolf in sheep’s clothing. And you soon have one two or three such candidates that all contesting from your constituency. The end result will be a grand invitation to the current ruling party to go on ruling.
It is completely shocking that MLAs are declaring that they want their wives or relatives to fight from other constituencies and even naming the constituencies. Will MLAs decide tickets for their family members or will people decide?
AND PEOPLE’S CANDIDATES WILL SHOW THAT IT’S POSSIBLE TO WIN ELECTIONS WITHOUT MONEY
Most good people do not get into electoral politics because they feel that you need lots of money to fight elections. This is because of the existing political system. If you choose the right people to represent you, you and they will show how you can win without money.
Herald will back, strengthen and support your choice
The Voice of Goa is with the people. And people’s candidates will have the full weight of the people’s paper with them.
FAMILY RAJ CAN END ONLY WHEN YOU ALLOW PEOPLE’S RAJ
This is a choice of a lifetime. When it comes to choosing right, even reject close family members if that is not the people’s choice.
Dear Goans, your destiny is in your hands. If you do not get rid of the wolves who will entice you and charm you, then like that childhood fable of Red Riding Hood, be prepared to let Goa attacked by the big bad wolf.
