It was a hard-fought battle for the BJP in Mapusa and a memorable achievement for the former MLA’s son who not only managed to carry forward the winning legacy of his eminent father but also silence his critics. In a free-wheeling interview to The Goan, Joshua D’Souza admitted that he was not oriented towards politics and the Fatorda MLA was his biggest source of inspiration
AGNELO PEREIRA
TG: During the entire election campaign for the Mapusa by-poll you were as cool as a cucumber even as the opposition resorted to mud-slinging. You never indulged in personal attacks against your rivals. Was it a conscious decision?
JOSHUA D’SOUZA: Ultimately, it all boils down to your upbringing. A lot of people used to attack my dad too but he never hit back at anyone on a personal level. I was very positive in my campaign. I did not see the need to talk about the opposition or say anything about them. We had a lot of content of our own. We focused on that and made sure we got that message out.
TG: As a councilor you appeared a very reticent politician. You rarely participated in any of the council discussions. Were you forced into politics...Was there pressure on you to carry on the baton after you dad?
JD: In all honesty I was not inclined to it (politics). There was always a feeling that one politician is there in the house, no need for another one. I never thought that one day I will become an MLA or a minister. And yes, I am basically an observer and would like to learn and get deeper insight of things. I don’t like to just say things and make a fool of myself. In the council meetings I did not find it necessary to do anything or say anything much because my dad was in charge.
TG: Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai rooted for your candidature. He’s also known to have played a pivotal role to fetch you the BJP ticket. What’s the connection? Is he your political guru?
JD: My guru was my father. Vijai Sardesai was one person who stood by me during the difficult time when I lost my dad. He gave me the strength and courage to deal with it…And he literally nudged me to go ahead (and take a plunge in the by-election). The support that Vijay gave me was very important at the crucial time…I don’t think anybody else was there during that time. Glen Ticlo was also there. He also was very supportive. But Vijay did it openly. He said it to the party guys, to the media (about taking my father’s legacy forward). Almost everywhere, he made sure I was highlighted. Wherever he met me, he would say you will be the next Mapusecho aamdar (Mapusa MLA). It kind of gave me the confidence…May be he saw a lot of qualities of my father in me. At no point of time did he say to join his party. He always spoke about the BJP. I was always inclined to continue with the BJP.
TG: After joining BJP your dad remained with the party till his last breath. He was the minority face of the party and BJP ensured that he campaigned nationally in the 2014 general elections. But there is a sense that BJP also failed to give him his due. The Congress had made overtures to you in the by-election…What made you to stick to the BJP?
JD: The right choice at that moment was the BJP. My dad was the BJP MLA for the last 20 years. So naturally, his entire team of supporters was also with the BJP. Going to another party would make me feel out of place. I wouldn’t know who I am supposed to talk to. In the BJP everything is very familiar. Everyone knows me at a personal level and I know everyone. It has always been a friendly environment and the kind of acceptance that I used to get from all my father’s colleagues was very positive. So joining any other party at that point of time did not come to mind at all. I would always think how comfortable I am with BJP. I feel at home in BJP.
TG: Your dad kept the BJP flag flying high in Mapusa and you have ensured his legacy is carried forward. Do you have some expectations from the party?
JD: I am not interested in any ministry or…If they decide to give it to me I will accept it. But I would like to dedicate this two and half years period completely to my constituency as I promised development in Mapusa. I need to perform and make sure I can implement as much as I can and cover up as many works that I have promised in the manifesto.
TG: Your dad once famously said that he’s a Hindu-Christian. Do you agree with him or you have a different view?
JD: I think a lot of people misunderstood that statement of his. It was a very personal statement he made about his lifestyle and upbringing. He was always surrounded by people from the Hindu community. So it was very natural for him to…He would speak a very particular kind of Konkani that is a mixture of the one we speak at home and the way the Hindus speak. And the way he would attend functions across all religions without having any difference…may be he made that kind of statement. We were born much later and we were brought up the Catholic way…So when he made that statement I too found it very strange. But then he explained to me what he meant. He suggested that we are all Indians, we are all Goans and so the natural religion during that time was Hinduism and that we were converted. That is a big debatable discussion…but a lot of people took it in the wrong sense. It was blown out of proportion.
TG: There are a lot of expectations from the people of Mapusa. What are the top five things that you would like to implement for Mapusa?
JD: My focus is to have planned development for the future not only for today or tomorrow. Top priority will be Mapusa bus-stand which will simultaneously take care of parking and decongestion. Construction of Tar River Bridge, garbage, better roads and Ravindra Bhavan is also there in the scheme of things.
