The buzz in social media over a group of legislators headed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat coming to the aid of a bemused BJP only amplifies the failure of both, the administration and the opposition.
Days after a cross-section of politicos including Luizinho Faleiro and Vijai Sardesai came together at a Satyanarayan Pooja at Digambar Kamat’s residence, the rumour mills began to churn. Practically, none of that can actually be true and given the fluid political scenario in the State, legislators can’t think of resigning and facing the electorate again at a time when there is a wave of resentment stacked up.
While on one hand there is a visible collapse of administration, a fact admitted by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai himself, there is very little Congress has done, except scream of a constitutional crisis. If there is constitutional crisis, why is the Congress not moving the Supreme Court instead of approaching the Governor where they know they can’t have their way?
Talk of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar being away for long, overseas trips were always believed to be a signs of bad omen to those in power. We recall the coup engineered by Parrikar in October 2000 bringing down Francisco Sardinha’s 11-month-old coalition government while he was holidaying in Australia.
Another such change in regime happened in November 1998 during the rule of Dr Wilfred De Souza who was running a coalition government with MGP and BJP. His cabinet ministers led by Dayanand Narvekar joined hands with the Congress while De Souza was on his London trip. And in 2012, Parrikar managed to quell a coup while he was on personal tour to US.
Cut to the present where the CM and two of his key ministers have been out of bounds. The Congress has miserably failed to capitalize and all it succeeded in doing is cry hoarse over the failure of the administration.
An utter failure of the Congress leadership right from the Centre to the State is evident. Given the situation, Party president Rahul Gandhi and his team should have been seized of the matter and strategised accordingly. On the contrary, Sonia Gandhi made a quiet entry into Goa on a personal visit, unperturbed by the political happenings in the State. The picture in the BJP camp is in sharp contrast to the Congress, where partymen are in constant touch with their leadership including party president Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari and in special cases even Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress leadership disconnect has been one of major factors responsible for the party losing direction at this crucial juncture. The theatrics, more of which are triggered by dubious social media initiatives, have been played out by the party leaving even this feeble ruling dispensation unperturbed.
The enemy for the Congress lies within, with its legislature wing sharply divided. Reginaldo Lourenco has made his point very clear that the party has never been serious in taking on the government even after sensing a collapse of governance.
Engaging in mindless exchanges using fake social media posts is pure political chicanery. It’s time Congress gets serious with hard issues and does all its homework before going for the kill.
