Former Tourism Minister Francisco Xavier Mickey Pacheco on Tuesday raised concerns over recent political developments in Goa, alleging a decline in standards of political conduct and leadership.
Referring to the upcoming Ponda by-election, Pacheco said it was expected for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to field a candidate, but questioned the functioning of the Indian National Congress in the state. He criticised the Congress for what he described as repeated strategic errors and a lack of introspection following past defections.
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Highlighting what he termed as “contradictions” in candidate selection, Pacheco pointed out that a former rival candidate has now been fielded by the Congress, which, according to him, reflects a lack of ideological clarity within the party.
He also expressed concern over the conduct of opposition MLAs, urging them to raise issues within the Assembly rather than resorting to public confrontations. According to Pacheco, internal criticism among opposition leaders weakens their collective position and inadvertently benefits the ruling side.
Commenting on the rise in protests across Goa, he said frequent agitations could signal governance shortcomings, while also noting that some protests may be influenced by vested interests.
Pacheco further emphasised the importance of public consultation in governance, warning that decisions taken without involving local communities often lead to resistance and unrest.
