The decision day has arrived for Ponjekars. Over 22,000 voters in the capital city are expected to make a choice at the bypoll. At the forefront are the BJP and Congress candidates locked in a neck-and-neck contest and also in the fray are GSM and AAP nominees who have impressed with their brisk electoral campaigns.
To BJP’s advantage, it has Sidharth Kuncolienkar a two-time winner who enjoys a fairly good rapport with Ponjekars with a solid understanding of the contours of the city’s political landscape. Also for the fact that he worked closely with former chief minister Manohar Parrikar during his tenure has given him valuable insights. However, his party’s failure to address several core issues plaguing the city is staring him right in the face. Key issues like garbage, parking, casinos, the constantly polluted St Inez creek, market chaos, jobs and poor road conditions have left a large section of voters disillusioned. Add to this, the Smart City project and the finances that have kicked up a lot of dust.
On the flip side, Congress candidate, Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate has left no stone unturned in a desperate bid to change the narrative. Babush’s manifesto left Ponjekars baffled to say the least. From promising one lakh to the girl child in every Panaji family, to one job per household, and assuring to drive away casinos out of River Mandovi in 100 days, Babush has promised Ponjekars virtually everything under the sun. Perhaps, he doesn’t have the slightest of clue over the financial implication of implementing these unrealistic promises, especially at a time when the State is going through a serious fiscal crisis.
The bypoll campaigns were about money power and promises -- old and new. But then, politicos are known to make promises all the time and break them. And that’s the ugly side of a democratic setup. Betrayal of voters’ trust has been rampant, but surprisingly, history suggests Goans have not always shown strong disenchantment with politicians who have this dubious distinction of not living up to their pre-poll promises. People have tolerated dishonesty in the past.
The State is at crossroads, but the political picture remains hazy and much will depend on the four constituencies going for a bypoll, including Panaji. For now the entire focus is on Ponjekars. And they have a tough call to make. Here comes a moment where the voter has to reach out within one’s conscience and cut out everything else “ from money power to the rich promises made. It’s the time every Ponjekar exercises his franchise in the interest of their beloved city and nothing else.
