Goans have a right to a fully working government and they will not have one for 45 days

The objective of every election is a smooth transition and a quick one. That is why our Constitution provided for continuous governance. Parties change but governance is constant. The will of the people may remain the same or change, and a new government replaces the old one. But the process has to be seamless so that the common man or woman is not denied access to crucial policy decisions.

Moreover, a functioning government has functioning ministers and departments connected closely to people’s needs like education, social welfare, women and child development, agriculture, civil supplies etc. While the bureaucracy is supposed to process files and keep the wheels of government moving, in reality, it does not happen.

The BJP with its huge mandate surely would like to deliver governance to its people. But it also knows that during this period of long transition, the government has virtually stopped functioning. Everyone is in a wait and watch mode. From lower level babus to the heads of departments, they are all waiting for portfolios to be allotted after which a bureaucratic reshuffle will happen “in the public interest”.

While this has been the norm, you need time to do these things. From February 14 when Goans voted to March 10 when votes were counted there was a long period of lull in governance. After the results came out on March 10, it was expected that the BJP which got a clear majority would stake a claim and a government would be in place. Finally, the BJP staked a claim and it was expected that we would have the CM and ministers sworn in by March 23. 

The BJP also knows that they have numerically won the elections, but it has not been an overwhelming people’s mandate. So it needs to quickly get to work and win confidence

The quirks of electoral, mathematics have given the BJP numerical superiority because of the first past the post system. But it has a legal mandate, and all must respect it. But the BJP will turn this numerical mandate into winning the trust of the people only when it starts governance early. And this delay does not help them on that mission.

Therefore, many Goans reacted with surprise and shock when the date for swearing-in was announced on March 28, a delay of yet another week, to basically accommodate the Prime Minister’s schedule.

The budget or a vote on account must be passed by March 31. Can a meaningful exercise be done in two days after the swearing-in?

If the budget is not passed or a vote on account is not taken by March 31, the State will not be able to spend any resources. So, this risk will be technically averted when on March 30 the election is likely to be held to elect the new Assembly Speaker after which the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will present the budget and seek a Vote on Account for the first four months.

But the question that even the BJP would ask is, shouldn’t the exercise of utilizing funds and preparing budgets be done more intensely, with more time allowing MLAs and ministers to study it?

As Advocate Radharao Gracias said, “I’m sure there are bureaucrats preparing the budget or the papers for the vote on account. That will be presented to the cabinet and passed in the Assembly without giving due time to new ministers or MLAs to study and even raise points.”

This has not gone well with the opposition. Former Chief Minister and MLA Digambar Kamat said, “This is for the first time in the history of Goa Assembly that such a thing is happening. It is always after the new Chief Minister is sworn in, all new MLAs are administered oath by the Pro-tem Speaker. But this time it was all opposite,” and added that the Pro-tem Speaker has no power to function as interim Speaker.

Kamat further said that at least three days prior notice has to be given to all members before convening the Assembly session except when calling an emergency session.

Former Advocate General and Aldona Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “This is not a correct procedure. The Chief Minister cannot postpone the swearing-in ceremony and he is hanging on the vestiges of the old Assembly. It is a mockery of democracy, and the BJP has thrown all precedent to the winds.”

However, BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade was unfazed with the fears expressed by the opposition. He said that the new government will convene the Assembly session and present the budget. “There is nothing to worry about as we have two more days after the swearing-in. Our swearing had to be postponed due to swearing-in of the new government in Uttarakhand on March 23 while, auspicious dates were not available till Monday,” Tavavade said.

Again, the people of Goa are rightfully asking if the swearing-in of another State government should hold up government formation in Goa.

On this issue Advocate Gracias said, “The election commission has done its duty on time and conducted the elections smoothly. One party has been given a clear mandate. The Prime Minister is not needed under any provisions of the Constitution. After all one party has been voted to power by the people and they need the service of the government they voted for. They need accountability, not delays.”

The Prime Minister is always welcome. He would have agreed to an immediate government formation followed by a public function when he arrived

A simple swearing in could have been done of the CM and a few of his key cabinet ministers. The Prime Minister could have then arrived at an auspicious later date and done a public meeting to celebrate its mandate. When you do service for the State, each day is auspicious. The Prime Minister would have surely agreed to this.

The BJP should introspect on this and make delivery of governance its main task as soon as it starts office ending a very long wait for Goans.