By Joe D’souza
In politics, the winner takes it all and the margin of victory only helps to boost the ego of the victor and demoralize the loser. Being a Panjimite, and having worked closely with Manohar Parrikar, along with Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, on several projects under JNNURM, directed essentially towards development of Panjim and welfare of the residents, I can confidentially assert that Parrikar himself would be far from being pleased with the outcome, and rightly so. For every two voted our MLA secured, the third vote went to Girish Chodankar. Parrikar has been nursing Panjim from 1994 and now as an incumbent Chief Minister, had adequate power under his belt to make the disorganized Congress loose deposit. That Girish could show a respectable vote share in 15 days of campaigning was appreciated even by the B.J.P. leadership.
Frankly, there would be no worse or a more adverse moment for Manohar Parrikar than of now. Not me, but also Dr. Nandkumar Kamat in his regular column has clearly indicated that environment degradation and destruction of the ecosystem in and around Panjim is lately peaking up. In Panjim, the Lucky Seven imbroglio, the shifting of Goa NGT matters to New Delhi from the Pune bench surely did not augur well for the educated voters of Panjim. There are now problems galore for the residents of Panjim from chaotic vehicle parking, garbage dumping all around and open prostitution and drug trade just below the houses of Panjim residents; but our MLA of nearly 23 years took upon himself that the casino menace, the water woes, the problems of free parking outsides residences of Panjimites would be soon taken up once the results to 23rd August, 2017 elections to the Panjim seat was declared & the model code of conduct lifted. Inspite of it all, Parrikar won the hearts of Panjimites and he must, now start delivering and clear this ongoing mess.
It was too optimistic and silly of Congress High Command to allow Babush Monserrate undue time and space to decide upon, if he wanted to be a Congress nominee for Panjim. In the past, candidates used to apply for a Congress ticket, paying a deposit, which was non refundable. Is it not ridiculous for a 130 year old party to send its MLAs to Babush’s residence, a man who has ditched Congress on more than one occasion? Congress leadership seems not to learn from history. Thus allowing poor history to repeat itself. In one master stroke, Parrikar proved that Congress’s hero was in fact a big zero. Parrikar merrily ignored him.
To add a nail to the coffin of Congress woes, offering of ticket to Advocate Surendra Desai, the man who worked hard in the High Court to bring in Lucky Seven, was like playing a cruel joke on the Panjim residents. It was certainly a blessing in disguise that both Advocate Surendra Desai and Ashok Naik of Goa Surakha Manch, saw how brittle, unorganized and opportunistic Congress leaders were, leaving it finally for Girish Chodankar to jump in the fray and sacrifice himself, coming from far away Fatorda. In Panjim, be it Keshav Prabhu, Dinar Tarcar, Ramesh Salimkan, Yatin Parekh, Surendra Furtado or Babush Monserrate; after losing, they have deserted Congress to strengthen the B.J.P. The people in Panjim knew that Girish was in the past used as a scapegoat against Digamber Kamat in Margao whilst Kamat had joined the B.J.P. Congress sadly has not been able to cultivate and groom a Panjimite to take on Manohar Parrikar. A parasitic dependence on individuals, instead of grooming leadership is the major malaise and defect, in the Congress style of functioning. Congress has encouraged regional satraps and families of politicians to misuse the Congress symbol. No doubt, Vishwajeet Rane or Madkaikar seem irreplaceable for the Congress once they defected.
There were attempts to instill communalism to confuse the Panjim issue but the Panjim voters casted their vote in hope, asserting “that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. Parrikar’s health issues too were propped up! Nilesh Cabral agrees that the Catholic in Panjim voted for Parrikar. However by drawing in the Bishop of Goa and the church here into unnecessary controversy is unfortunate as all is well that ends well.
The editors of major newspapers in Goa exhibited maturity and provided a level playing field for all candidates during this election. No yellow journalism was visible. The loser always claims that money decided the outcome. Even if money was spent, Panjimites voted for what they felt was right and “money factor” seems to be a lame excuse. Some priests along with Mavin Godinho mobilized and enlightened hundreds of Catholics, as to why electing Parrikar was good for the overall development and political stability of Goa. Hence the desecration issue should not be turned into a political slugfest by the BJP altar boys. Catholics today are not a Congress vote bank. Parrikar, unlike Congress leaders, has mastered the art of political and social engineering, and prefers to work on the field and not before the cameras of television studios, as has been the case of Congress leaders; who specialize in placing their views only during press conferences and television debates and do not specialize in doing field work. EX Congress Chief Ministers worked only for personal gains.
Vijay Sardesai made a very important statement, that today Parrikar is mature, and a different person, far from what he was in 2012. In this article, amongst others, I have differed and still continue to argue, with Parrikar and debate on issues; be it on casinos, festivals, pollution or environment degradation. Parrikar finds casinos generating income, I find them a cause of chaos, Parrikar wants NGT matters of Goa to go to New Delhi, I want NGT to come to Goa. We both agree to disagree but work together in the interest of Panjim. Parrikar since 1994, has joined me on quiet scientific field trips, assessing and monitoring ground water pollution and seeking methods to tackle garbage woes by using biotechnology, not only of Panjim but also of Calangute. Today many amongst us strongly feel that Parrikar is cultivating cancerous individuals who have deserted the Congress. The fear that Parrikar would soon be a victim of “oncogenesis of opportunism” is undermining his ability in political maneuvering and acumen.
As a student of science & genetic engineering, I know Parrikar and Congress leaders have different functional styles. Congress succeeded in alienating Vijay, Rohan, Mauvin, Madkaikar, Vishwajeet and Monserrate. But Parrikar succeeded in transforming Francis Dsouza, once considered as a “Political frog” to a dedicated B.J.P worker by removing the “jumping gene” which had in the past forced the Mapusa MLA to do party hopping. Vishwajit and Madkaikar are being suspected to disturb the B.J.P apple cart by 2019 along with the Goa Forward trio and independents. Let us remember Parrikar had kept Mathanhy firmly under his wings and the Catholic B.J.P MLAs are firmly under Parrikar’s glue. ‘Render to Caesar that belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God’. Let us give Parrikar, what clear is his and hope and pray Goa wins in the long run. The people of Panjim have finally spoken loud and clearly and the opposition forces should do their job to ensure that the Panjim MLA acts in the interest of Goa in general and Panjim in particular. Parrikar in turn should ensure his altar boys understand that the church is universal, dynamic and not a monolithic, one man show but a highly respected institution working in the service of humanity.
