If you have a dream for Goa then the only way to implement it is by getting elected and being in government. That is, by and large, the message sent out by Vijai Sardessai to his voters, and supporters of the Goa Forward Party. This has been the message of elected representatives since 1989, who left their parties and returned all in the effort to remain in government. Between 1990 and 1999 Goa saw nine governments come and go. Then from 2000 to 2005 there was relative stability with one election held in between to prevent migration of MLAs. From 2005 to 2017 Goa had stable governments but the year 2017 has begun with a mix and match of political parties, once again, all in the name of the development of the State.
Does everyone buy this? It looks like they do, because Goa has never punished ‘defectors’. In fact the only MLA, who refused to defect to the Congress when the Parrikar government was brought down in 2005, was defeated in an election. The conclusion that one draws from this is that voters like their MLAs to be in government. Ideology comes a distant second. And this is what GFP is banking on to see it through this troubled phase.
Even as the spotlight continues to be riveted on Vijai Sardessai and the GFP, in not so far away Benaulim, its MLA, Churchill Alemao did a neat U-turn. He voted for the ruling BJP-led coalition government in the Assembly without drawing any criticism or censure. Earlier he called a meeting of his closest supporters and then declared that he would support the government for the development of his constituency, but no one seems to be bothered because his vote is inconsequential at this point of time.
Vijai Sardessai, on the other hand, draws more criticism because of his stature as a leader and a larger than life political image. He is drawing more criticism because everyone believed and internalised his message of Goemkarponn. Their initial reaction was that of disbelief and betrayal. But they might all come back if GFP can prove, in the short and long run, that the key points of their manifesto are reflected in the common minimum programme.
If this is not acceptable, what is the alternative? Remaining in the opposition and spending the next five years talking about your dreams for Goa. The political situation is such that the BJP’s developmental model failed to enthuse while GFP’s Goemkarponn found resonance with voters. So this might be the best time to go back and reverse the wrongs. This is more likely to happen because the GFP is in government and Parrikar himself has started talking about Goemkarponn. Would the GFP not have achieved something if Goemkarponn becomes the guiding principle of the BJP, which desperately needs to rebuild the party in the image of Goa?
