What about the leadership of the State government and the secrecy that surrounds it? Is it a ‘faltu’ question to ask senior leaders of the BJP about leadership, especially when there is so much suspense surrounding it? Don’t the people of Goa have a right to know who is going to head the State? When former Health Minister and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane was asked about the leadership issue, pat came the reply -- “don’t ask faltu questions”, catching journos and viewers by surprise. It’s the job of journos to seek clarity when there is opacity. Individual leaders are of course at liberty to evade questions or choose not to reply to the media, but to summarily thrash relevant questions as ‘faltu’ only shows the discomfort and exposes more of what is sought to be concealed.
The BJP appears to be in no hurry to form the government with leaders shuttling between Delhi and Goa and keeping a veil of secrecy over outcomes. It is learnt that central observers will descend in Goa on March 21 and formally begin the government-formation process. While the buzz on Wednesday evening was about caretaker Chief Minister Pramod Sawant getting a green signal for the leadership post, with photos being posted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP State President Sadanand Tanavde and CT Ravi, there has been no official word confirming Sawant’s selection. This has only led to the speculation that the internal discord over the leadership issue may not be over yet, and the bonhomie shown in photos may be for sheer optics that the BJP is known for.
While the central leadership is taking its sweet time, it is not understanding the plight of the common man and the administration which has been in pause mode. Goa is without a fully-functional government and a lot of important departmental works are being kept on hold. There are crucial decisions that await the government’s sanction, and then there is anxiety in the minds of people over the approach and attitude of the new dispensation towards some of the key issues. There is certainly an air of expectancy, and the very fact that questions are being raised repeatedly only amplifies that.
The BJP high command has treated the government formation and leadership decisions as its domain and shown scant respect to the electorate and the populace. It appears that a ‘Squid Game’ of popular Netflix series is playing out on the political turf of Goa where leadership and ministership issues will be decided by the high command as per its objectives and goals.
Goa has seen politicos indulging in defections, mergers, the State has seen governments rise and fall, and it has witnessed political coups. But, an elected party not making moves of government formation for a good ten days in unheard of in the annals of Goa’s history.
