It is election time once again. The die has been cast with 587 aspiring candidates filing their nominations for the 40 seats in the Goa state legislative assembly. These elections will be different from earlier ones in more ways than one. The presence of political parties from other states has given a wider choice for the electorate. One important aspect of any election is the party manifesto. A manifesto is described as a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate. It is a set of ideas, opinions or views on various issues and lays a plan of action. The manifesto sets goals for the time of the political party in office. The party must ensure that they are realistic and achievable. Preparing the party manifesto requires a lot of planning and vision. However, it may seem that over the years the significance of the election manifesto has diminished. This is because political parties after coming to power may divert from their policies on issues. In a short period of time, the points mentioned in the manifesto may be all but forgotten. It could be akin to the New Year resolutions made by individuals only to be broken after a short time. The importance of the election manifesto has been diluted to a great extent as promises are not kept. The significance of the election manifesto needs to be restored. Political parties need to follow their respective manifesto even if they are in the opposition.
