At a time when even the State Election Commission has taken a very lenient view of the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues flagging off Carnival parades despite the model code of conduct having come into force for the ZP polls in March, it is indeed unfortunate that our legislators have not spared even traditional festivities from being drowned in a splash of political colours “ to prove a point, that is!
The political ‘Carniwar’ ahead of the Carnival fiesta in Margao, for instance! However, much before the Margao Carnival parade ‘floated’ towards Fatorda on Sunday, it had already been ascertained that the two cities would henceforth witness a bitter rivalry between some of its political leaders who by virtue of being residents of the commercial capital lay claims to being the final authorities on matters that ‘affect’ the region.
While Vijai Sardesai’s obsession for Fatorda as his personal fiefdom is well-known, it is his unbridled ambition to hold sway over the whole of Margao as well that has riled his critics. However, with the Margao Municipal Council pretty much under his thumb, it does appear that he has been more than successful in his designs.
Meanwhile, the Margao MLA, as the Opposition leader in the House, has been commendably taking the BJP-government head-on for various inconsistencies and irregularities observed; it has been his conspicuous silence though over many a woe that afflict his constituency, and which demand his immediate attention, that has peeved Madganvkars.
In the meantime, although miles away from his constituency, it is apparent that the ‘Sultan of Gandhi Market’ and one of the present Deputy Chief Ministers in the state cabinet wants to ‘extend’ his influence over the commercial capital.
Insisting that ‘the show must go on’, Manohar ‘Babu’ Azagaonkar has time and again made light of various controversies he has been courting in his recent stint as the Tourism Minister.
Yet apart from garnering headlines for the inglorious power struggles among its leaders, has Goa gained anything worthwhile from these political theatrics?
With compromises being made at every instance, it has been a typical case of the head not knowing what the tail is up to. How can the public exude confidence in a government that supposedly has an indecisive man at the helm?
Quite unlike the resolve shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team to ignore the resolute demands from various quarters for repealing the amended citizenship act, the regularity with which the Chief Minister of Goa has been withdrawing ‘promulgations’ made by him under pressure from the Opposition parties does indeed come as a big surprise.
The North Goa district administration has withdrawn Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning unlawful assembly of people which was imposed earlier after intelligence inputs about possible terror threats along the western coast. Although the Opposition parties were right in questioning the security restrictions ordered by the state administration on large gatherings ahead of the Carnival festivities as it would adversely affect the tourism industry, it is astonishing to have the CM wilting under pressure so easily.
Despite the overwhelming ‘majority’ that he enjoys in the House, would a handful of Opposition legislators and their ‘histrionics’ actually unsettle him?
Just recently, following strong objection from the civil society, village panchayats and Opposition parties, the Pramod Sawant-led government hurriedly withdrew the controversial order notifying urban status to 56 villages under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968.
The justifications proffered by the government in each of these cases are as much cloaked in ambiguity as are the reasons for imposing them in the first place. To add further to the unease, the Archbishop of Goa has urged the central government to ‘immediately and unconditionally revoke the Citizenship Amendment Act and desist from implementing the NCR and the NPR’, and stop quashing ‘the right to dissent’.
Although the divide in the cabinet on this issue is quite obvious, the Church’s stand will severely dent the political fortunes of the eight Congress turncoats who joined the BJP in July last year.
Hence the urgent meeting sought by the CM with the Archbishop appears to be the reactions of a harried leader who senses matters slipping out of his hands.
And now, the state government’s ‘technical ground’ explanation notwithstanding, the CM’s critics claim the nod by the Supreme Court allowing the Karnataka government plea that the Mhadei Tribunal award be notified by the Central government is a definite setback for the government.
Seemingly succumbing to pressure from the Centre, he stands accused of compromising on the contentious issue. Is the CM out to save his chair? Has he failed to fulfill the aspirations of Goans?
While the CM has come through as a man of vision quite adroitly mixing up his political astuteness with the right amount of diplomacy to arrive at solutions to daunting tasks, it is quite apparent that the cool exterior camouflages deep-seated apprehensions over his survival at the helm of affairs in the state.
Not a man in the same aggressive mould as Parrikar, it is difficult to envisage Pramod Sawant coming out with all guns blazing and unnerving his detractors. Entertaining the whimsicalities of his cabinet colleagues even if they have bordered on craziness, the CM has sent across a feeling that he is not averse to turning a blind eye to their ‘misdeeds’ as long they don’t rock the boat. This strategy has helped him weather the storm and sail through the turbulence to dock in safe waters.
Although politics in Goa has always been along predictable paths, the developments in recent times have seen some of the most unethical practices being put to effective use to decimate the ‘opposition of the moment’ for the winning-side to overwhelmingly take control of governance in the state.
In Goa, some weird ‘honeymoons’, vague permutations and combinations at times and large-scale defections have set the tone for government formations. It is difficult to say whether these ‘trends’ would be emulated - or are already “ in other parts of the country.
The BJP in Goa, however, continues to bask in the glory of such unhealthy developments. With ‘why’ and not ‘why not’ being an attribute that exemplifies every leader’s conduct in the current political setup, let us however not entertain any hopes of the present lot accepting moral responsibility for developments that are detrimental to the betterment of their constituency or state.
Hence, no matter how much a quintessential Goa would want it, it is not possible to envisage a scenario where the CM of Goa tenders his resignation to put pressure on BJP high command vis-Ã -vis the ‘Mhadei rancour.
