The wave of discontent against the manner in which this government is taking decision after decision, each more anti-people than the other, needs to be channelized as one unifying force against this ruling dispensation. This force needs to project itself as one unit, resolving all its differences, putting its disagreements and egos on one side and deciding jointly what’s good for Goa.
It needs to jointly put in place 40 men and women who both, broadly and specifically, fit into the following template. Ideally fresh or in full fledged electoral politics at the Assembly level for less than a decade but ideally not more than five years, absolutely clean with not a single blot of corruption or moral turpitude, pledges that the people of Goa will always hold center stage and have preference over the politicians of Goa, pledges that the preservation of Goa’s land, heritage, environment, forests and coasts will determine their decisions both as MLAs, Ministers or Chairmen of Corporations, declare that institutions will be allowed to do their jobs without interference especially those which investigate corruption, be absolutely devoid of religious or caste biases in any form or manner.
This is no easy task. The devil is in the detail and the ground reality in Goa is far removed from the wish list above. The non BJP space is getting populated but not coordinated. The Congress, one cannot forget still got around 34% of the vote share, barely 3% less than the BJP and its allies. But the BJP won because it was the only available choice. The Congress doesn’t find itself in that same position because of the terrible weakness the party was afflicted by along with a very poor performance on the floor of the House with the Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane literally playing into the BJP’s hands. However, can you really imagine a 2017 election with the Congress out of the picture and not playing a significant role? It’s clear that any front against the BJP has to have the Congress playing a frontal role.
Meanwhile, the Regional Front consisting mainly of three independents Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal is set to form its new party in a day from now. While this move comes with possibilities, it is important to know that there were efforts and parleys made for the Congress and this front to come together. GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro is emphatic that he had made credible overtures to Sardesai, a former Congressman, to join back and take a responsible legislative position. Sardesai on the other hand states that the Margao civic elections are clear evidence of this front and the Congress managing to work together and win. Faleiro counter claims that the Congress was “treated like a chaprasi” in this equation. Faleiro goes on to add that Sardesai has stymied, sabotaged and prevented new faces from joining the Congress. Sardesai on the other hand feels that the GPCC president has been combative and confrontational and started announcing candidates on places where they could have fought as one.
However irrespective of how these allegations play out and the weight in each one of them, let everyone introspect and ask themselves basic questions:
* WILL A DIVIDED OPPOSITON SAVE GOA OR HELP THE RULING PARTY?
* IF THE CONGRESS AND THE THRID FRONT FIELD CANDIDATES IN KEY SALCETE CONSTIUENCIES, WON’T THERE BE A VOTE SPLIT HEAVY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BJP WIN EVEN IN CONSTITUENCIES WHERE THERE IS A STRONG ANTI-INCUMBENCY WAVE?
* HAS THE NEW FRONT DECIDED TO FORGE AHEAD INDEPENDENTLY EVEN IF THE CONGRESS IS READY TO FIGHT AS ONE UNITED FRONT?
* CAN THE CONGRES ONCE AGAIN REITERATE THAT IT IS READY TO PLAY THE LEAD (AS THE RECOGNISED OLDER PARTY) IN EFFORTS TO GIVE GOA A UNITED NON BJP OPPOSITION?
* CAN BOTH THE CONGRESS AND THE NEW FRONT DECLARE THAT ITS EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON GIVING GOA A GOOD PROFESSIONAL TEMPLATE OF GOVERNANCE AND DECISIONS LIKE WHO THE NEW CHIEF MINISTER WILL BE, CAN WAIT? THERE MAY BE AN ANTI-BJP STRONG SENTIMENT BUT THERE ISN’T ANY PRO WAVE YET.
This is for all those who love Goa and live here. This is also for many well meaning intellectuals, scholars, professionals who have decided to be more participative in politics without necessarily entering the electoral fray, in order to contribute towards the saving of Goa. We ask: Are you in this only to make a point, or are you in this to win. This is serious business and there is not time for any games or experiments. Every decision has to be geared towards winning back Goa from the clutches of an anti-people ruling force and then bringing in swarajya or a government of the people. Any party or force not willing to follow this simple but straight path has no business to be here. And let there be no mistake, the straight path is a united path and this something that both a grand old party and new born must together understand.
And the bottom line is that those who are against unifying all anti-ruling forces for the sake of Goa, are actually playing into the hands of the current dispensation and getting used by them.
