This week the capital city which is in a never-ending process of ostensibly getting converted into a so-called 'Smart City' witnessed a rare event -- An inspection of the ongoing works by the honourable Justices of the Bombay High Court, Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes.
The lordships had perhaps not bargained for what they were confronted with when they actually got down on ground zero to execute the inspection -- complaints and demands galore from the public.
Yet the justices, both of whom incidentally grew up and later lived and worked in the city, went about their task walking through some of the most messy portions of the city to get a sense of the situation on the ground.
Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), its contractors and officials did everything in their capacity to better the situation in the days leading to the inspection.
However, if the IPSCDL officials thought they were smart and would be able to pull wool over the Bench's eyes, one of the Judges proved a notch smarter, according to a source in the Bar.
Days before the scheduled inspection, the Lordship took the step of walking through the streets of his beloved city by himself, in incognito mode.
And, lo and behold, he saw for himself the mess the city was, according to our source in the Bar, pun intended.
A case of 'chowkidar hi chor hai'
It is not unusual to come across an odd 'babu' tasked with the job of surveillance and policing himself turns out to be the rogue. However, such a scenario is least expected at election time when the best officials are picked to man the election-related duties and the election machinery earned a huge reputation ever since TN Seshan redefined the Election Commission of India and the conduct of elections back in the 1990s.
However, this week we did come across a rare case here in Goa at Dabolim where officials of the flying squad, generally tasked with checking the movement of liquid cash to prevent distribution and bribing of voters, themselves turned out to be the villains.
The incident has thrown up serious questions over the integrity and efficacy of the election machinery in ensuring a free and fair poll on May 7.
The bizarre case of Dabolim where the flying squad accosted a businessmen duo and lifted Rs 16 lakhs from them but did not do the formalities of recording the seizure, clearly points to weak links and chinks in the machinery of the election watchdog.
Goa's Chief Electoral Officer, Ramesh Verma, clearly has a task on his hands to sift through the roster and weed out the black sheep, lest he and his team could end up with more egg on their face like they currently are in the aftermath of the Dabolim episode.
Money talks and how
In what could only be termed a masterclass in a modern-day political charm offensive, the BJP in Goa has taken the art of buttering up to soaring heights, or rather, depths.
As the parliamentary elections loom large, the saffron party has unleashed its arsenal of tactics, with one particular strategy standing out like a sore thumb – the strategic distribution of fat envelopes.
With candidates for both Lok Sabha seats declared, the party has embarked on a charm offensive that would make even the smoothest talker blush.
Armed with their legendary ground-level party organization and bolstered by their dual power positions in both the State and at the Centre, the BJP is a force to be reckoned with.
But it's not just their political prowess that sets them apart; it's their resourcefulness, particularly when it comes to leveraging the power of the almighty rupee.
In a recent spectacle, the BJP summoned the ruling councillors of various municipalities in the North to their district office in Mapusa.
With pep talks and promises of glory in the air, the scene was set for a display of political theatrics. But it was what happened after the grandstanding that truly left tongues wagging.
As the illustrious tall leaders who addressed the councillors made their exit, each councillor was discreetly slipped a hefty envelope. The contents of said envelopes? Well, let's just say it wasn't a personalized thank-you note for their unwavering dedication to public service.
Forget lofty ideals or visionary leadership; in the game of politics, it seems that money talks, and it talks rather loudly.
Ex-MLA picks favourite journos for meet!
This takes the cake. A former BJP MLA in Goa recently decided to host a press conference that resembled more of a VIP club gathering than a democratic exchange of ideas.
With all the finesse of a bull in a china shop, the ex-MLA from Bardez handpicked a chosen few from the journalist pool, leaving the rest to twiddle their thumbs and ponder the meaning of exclusion.
As the chosen scribes gathered eagerly, pens poised and cameras at the ready, the press conference unfolded predictably – a cacophony of verbal jabs aimed squarely at his political rival.
But amidst the sea of nodding heads and dutiful note-taking a la stenographer, there lurked a question, a nagging itch that refused to be ignored. Why were some journalists conspicuously absent from the guest list?
When confronted with this glaring display of favouritism, a lackey of the ex-MLA offered up a feeble excuse, claiming that attempts had been made to extend the invitation but the journo was unreachable!
A likely story, if ever there was one.
But let's not dwell on such trivialities. After all, in the cutthroat world of politics, where egos are as fragile as spun glass and alliances are forged and broken with the flick of a wrist, such displays of pettiness are par for the course.
So let us raise a toast to the ex-MLA, a shining example of professionalism in politics – or so we're told.
For in a world where truth is often stranger than fiction, it seems that even the most seasoned politicians can't resist the allure of playing favourites.
