The Congress in Goa has been decimated and the main reason appears the selection of candidates at the last minute. The last-minute selection gave candidates less time to canvass. Some candidates, who were sure to get tickets, started campaigning well in advance the new faces had no time to approach the voters of the entire constituency. Also, tickets were allotted to candidates who were not grassroots workers. Also, the split of votes by AAP, RG and TMC cost the Congress dearly. Even the Chief Minister’s margin of victory was wafer-thin. Now, the elections and the results are done and dusted. It is time for the Congress party to ponder and take corrective steps or otherwise the vacuum created by Congress will be filled by the AAP and RG. The same thing has happened in Punjab. The infighting among Congress leaders led to the party’s downfall and gave an advantage to AAP. Kudos to Kejriwal for the effort he has put in Punjab and even Goa. There is every possibility in the next elections the AAP may even cross the double-digit. Even the RG, which the Congress underestimated, may increase its tally.
The many wrongs at police stations
Recently, two cops were suspended for a brawl at the police station barracks at Old Goa. This is not new, there are many instances of cops misbehaving even with complainants even when they are right due to political influence. One such instance was Ponda where a woman went to the police station to file a case. But police personnel there were hurling bad words. Maybe it is the work pressure and timing of work that is making the cops behave the way they are seen behaving. This has to be corrected immediately. Some policemen report to duty in a drunken state. These cops should be made to take an alcometer test. The police stations are meant to protect the public. Police personnel have to deal with complainants in a respectful manner and not abuse them. The higher-ups must conduct surprise checks to ensure the police stations work in a disciplined manner.
