Soon elections will be upon us. Presently, it looks like voters are fed up with fly-by-night local parties trying to create political space and then sliding into the ruling party combine, abandoning its promises made to the people. The old and spent political forces still survive on brute money and muscle power to sway opinions in their favour and continue to be on the political map of Goa There is little hope that new and young faces will emerge. The emerging dominance of the authoritarian governance of BJP does not augur well for Indian democracy. Goan politics too is rooted in a religious divide for its survival. The national party is openly espousing the cause of the majority to the hilt. Goans need to consider a viable alternative to politics of hate, exclusion and divisions on religious lines. AAP, which has survived a massive political onslaught in Delhi elections and decimated BJP, surely merits a chance to extend its progressive, people-oriented policies in Goa. It is time Goans usher in change and move away from the “old wine in new bottle” syndrome.
