The BJP government has been known for its gross abuse of power. In the history of Goa, while as a Union Territory and later as a State, now for the first time ever the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar has been given two police escort vehicles to accompany him, a perk and privilege he is not entitled to. As to how the Goa Police has consented to this illegal act is something they would have to answer and more importantly the Chief Secretary who Pramod Sawant has reduced to a lame duck.
Now in yet another very outrageous and high-handed move, the Pramod Sawant Government has issued a hurried ordinance to ensure that the election of the Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council is manipulated by conducting it through show of hands instead of secret ballot. And as expected Governor Pillai swiftly signed at the dotted line.
In any election where there is a contest, it is imperative that in true democratic spirit it is conducted by secret ballot so that the inner will of those electing is exercised in true spirit without fear or favour. It is so very outrageous that the BJP dared to herd those very councilors to a South Goa Temple to make them take an oath on a coconut that they would vote for that particular BJP candidate. A very sad state of affairs with the BJP having lost all sanity.
The overall manner in which the BJP has been brandishing its power comes as no surprise. If those eight MLAs chose to join the BJP when lured by the greed of power and money to deviate from what they had solemnly pledged before the Gods of various faiths and even to their sworn affidavits shows how low, they dare to stoop. May they realize that God is watching and will crack the whip with impunity. The electorate that they repeatedly and arrogantly choose to make a mockery of will not forgive them either. In our politically democratic state it is very disturbing that the rule of law is being blatantly abused by the BJP while desperately trying to subvert democracy.
