If the recent rumblings, nay, signs in the air which are likely to turn into writings on the wall – are indeed authentic, Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane is all set to force another by-election down our throats. And as this goose is being cooked, there’s another one likely to be on the fire. Tony Fernandes, the so-called Congress MLA of St Cruz, has thrown all pretences to the wind and said that his “boss” is Babush Monserrate, and not the people of St Cruz or the Congress party. For all these MLAs the Congress is a mere foot-note in their plan and scheme of things, and will come into the picture as a minor formality, when they address their resignation letter to the party, if the speculations doing the rounds come true.
While it is only Vishwajit Rane who has actually resigned, the attitude of Tony Fernandes and his declaration of his allegiance to Monserrate and his willingness to play slave to his master, whose political ambitions are stronger after his defeat in the Assembly elections from Panjim, is a mammoth insult to the people of St Cruz and Goa. Here is an MLA saying that the will of the people and their faith when they elected him on a party ticket means nothing at the altar of his supremo who can take the call to nullify a people’s choice at will.
At this point, in fairness to Monserrate, we need to record that neither has he said even once that he is going to ask Tony Fernandes to step down to force a by-election, where he is likely to contest. But the speculations are strong enough for Tony Fernandes to set up a meeting with Monserrate, and state on the eve of the meeting, that he would step down if Monserrate asks him to. This isn’t as much about Monserrate as about Tony Fernandes and how he is approaching his role as the elected representative of the people of St Cruz, by declaring his complete subservience to one man.
These are symptoms of a larger malaise. The malaise of we the people falling further and further behind in the game called ‘We the politicians’. Goa is soon becoming a state where political parties, or some political parties being reduced to ticket distribution agencies, much like mercenary soldiers who wear a uniform they are hired to wear. This is why we have such comments from MLAs like, “I can win on any ticket, with any symbol – a goat, a football or a lotus.”
This sense of confidence stems from a master servant relationship that political leaders have with their voters. The master commands the servants and the servants are serfs of masters. This has been a pre- existing condition. However, if Goans across constituencies where they have voted for the Congress candidates, see their MLAs resigning, with the confidence that voters will follow them to their next political destination like lambs, who is to blame – the politicians or their voters?
Isn’t it time to ask ourselves if we haven’t become a part of a murky trade in politics by becoming the resource for the trade. This trade still cannot happen unless a candidate pulls votes and wins an election. The voter still has to go to that booth and cast his vote. He is the resource. If the voter decides not to sell or trade his conscience, morals and most importantly his commitment to what he wants Goa to be, no politicians can do a deal with his votes. For any trade, you need a buyer and a seller, but it is the seller which begins the transaction by announcing that he has something to sell, whether it is a product or one’s conscience or even one’s body and soul. This is true of even the world’s oldest profession where the transaction is between two individuals. However, when a transaction affects the lives and future, in any which way, of a mass of people, then it is just not fair to do it without speaking to them. Here, Congress MLAs sought and got votes on the Congress symbol. But some of them are planning on quitting to contest, or pave the way for someone else to contest, without even considering speaking to voters. Vishwajit Rane has said that he is conducting a sweeping village to village consultation process with the people to decide about his future. This is nothing but optics, which may be a part of politics but need not be a true harbinger of the actual situation.
But the decision to quit the Congress was taken abruptly within hours of he being sworn in as Congress MLA, and this was done without any consultation. In Tony Fenandes’ case, it’s worse. He has called Babush Monserrate his boss and thanked him for “negotiating” a ticket for him with the Congress.
The future is still in the hands of the people of Goa. They can take control or simply give in and let a section of the political class do what they want. And when they do that they must be prepared to give up a less talked about fundamental right- the right to protest and lament.
