Election season is upon us and with it comes political parties vying with each other for a slice of the voters’ attention in an effort to prove to the voter that they are the best choice ahead of the polls. In the bargain they use every trick in the book to advertise and market themselves, more than talking about their own achievements and the work they have done over the past five years that often involves trying to taunt, belittle, snigger at and name-call their political opponents.
We have seen a glimpse of it no sooner the political parties announced their candidates, taking pot shots at each other and sometimes at their own party colleagues in the course of the elections. It is all fair and harmless as long as the banter and the potshots are within the limits of decency and do not cross the line and start targeting each other personally.
But more than that there is a distinct danger that the political rhetoric will take a more sinister turn when politicians in their efforts to gain an upper hand begin to raise sensitive issues and that can drive a wedge between communities. Targeting people on the basis of religion, caste or asking for votes in the name of religion or with the promise that only a certain political party can protect the interests of a religious group need to be avoided at all cost.
Goa has not witnessed that kind of discourse till date, but the risk remains and the feeling that we are on the precipice of a full blown war on words on the basis of religion. What has worked in Goa’s favour so far is that the population is divided in such percentages that religious polarisation will not bring electoral dividends and could instead backfire. It is this calculation that has kept Goa safe from a religious polarisation during elections so far. For now with the Election Commission of India extending the ban on public rallies at least until January 31, we will not get to listen to public speeches where possibly controversial statements are usually made.
But if, as expected, the Election Commission lifts the ban on rallies, that still gives political parties two weeks to hold rallies. The challenge then will be for the voter to ensure that he/she keeps the political leaders in check by making their displeasure known if any politicians attempt to gain votes on the basis of religion or caste. Despite the positive signs the feeling is that the level of political discourse in the State has gone down a few notches with today's talk of the power of money, the lack of moral and ethics in public life all too common among politicians.
It is a symptom of the politics devoid of morals that has been seen prevalent in Goa over the last five years as every single established norm and custom has been thrown out of the window in the parties’ unabashed lust for power. One hopes that come March 10 things will be different this time round and the political parties respect the will of the people.
