Radharao Gracias, has a day job in the courts of Goa. But he has a lifetime self inflicted commitment to fish in troubled political waters or better still trouble the waters himself. But he is one of Goa’s shrewdest political minds which he has often lent to people like Churchill Alemao. So when Herald learnt that Gracias had things to say about Alemaos final hara-kiri of contesting these elections as a rebel, inviting him to write was irresistible.
Election fever is rising in direct proportion to the summer heat. For once, in decades, I am relaxed. I have no meetings to address, no candidates to support. Nevertheless, I have an invitation to address a couple of citizens meetings. May be, I may just take the plunge. After all, the tongue needs to be sharpened occasionally.
The emergence of AAP was looked upon, as hope of a new dawn by people disgusted with the existing dispensation. Many were eager to join the party, with the sole purpose of seeking a new direction, for the country. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly the RSS has not merely infiltrated into, but has captured the Goa unit of the AAP. The leadership is in the hands of far right fundamentalist elements. And both, Dr Oscar Rebello and Remo Fernandes currently appear to be the “bakras”. Both the AAP candidates for the Lok Sabha seats, were actively campaigning for the BJP and were even contenders for the BJP tickets, during the last two assembly elections. Both have been honest enough to admit their RSS connections. Many are looking upon the AAP Goa, as a betrayal. The momentum gathered by the party in the initial stages, has been lost. Why could the AAP not find candidates, not tainted by extremist philosophy? Are there no progressive liberal and forward looking people, in the State? If the people want the RSS, they might as well support the BJP.
It would appear logical to believe that the AAP would eat into the BJP vote, but the equation is not that simple. The honest truth is a large number of people who had voted for the BJP, in disgust against the Congress, in the last elections, are now equally frustrated with the BJP. The presence of the AAP, with candidates owing allegiance to the RSS, would mean that the disgruntled BJP supporters would rather vote for the AAP than the Congress. And presto, the BJP benefits.
The Congress for once at least for the South Goa seat, appears to have made a proper choice. The candidate, Reginaldo Lourenco has over the last two years publicly stood up to the Government while most Congressmen have been shying away, for fear of their previous misdoings being exposed. His performance in the House, has been outstanding and his clean image, seems to have suddenly galvanised demoralised Congress workers into action. All had seemed lost, but a last moment readjustment in the seat allocation has made the ordinary Congress worker believe that victory is achievable.
But then, the Congress does not need external enemies, as saboteurs are ever present within. The sitting MP, Francisco Sardinha, has no cogent reason to complain. He is a creation of the Congress and minus the party, he has no stand whatsoever. He has reaped the benefits of electoral office, on Congress ticket, from 1977. He should be grateful. Strangely, his son Shallom, is now threatening to contest the seat denied to his father. But I do not really believe that he is such a fool, to contest and confirm that he has no support at all.
On the other hand, Churchill Alemao can authentically claim, to be a self made leader, with a massive following, at one time. But then every leader has an expiry date. Churchill has definitely not reached that stage and he may have a future ahead of him unlike his bet noire Luizinho Faleiro.
The goodwill that Churchill has earned over the years could be frittered away by just one mis-step of contesting the elections. Churchill may quote a hundred reasons for being in the fray, but time and circumstances are such that few are going to believe him. His decision to contest as an independent may not be appreciated at all.
If Churchill intends to prolong his political career, he must listen to the voice of the people, which is loud and clear.
The issue before the voters is not, so much as communalism, but fascism. Narendra Modi is clearly intolerant, of dissent, like his mentors the RSS. The manner in which senior BJP leaders, like L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Jaswant Singh and others have been dealt with, is an indicator of things to come.
No one in the BJP itself, may be able to control him, as was the case with the Congress, under Indira Gandhi.
There is a distinct possibility, that if Modi becomes the Prime Minister, these may be the very last elections. The democratic process could be subverted, through dubious constitutional means and emergency could be imposed, never to be lifted.
