PACHU MENON
Goa, today, is a hotbed of political shenanigans that could well bring a wry smile on the face of skeptics who have all along maintained that when it comes to political maturity, Goans are still in the Stone Age where flints and fire were as much a novelty as the advancing technological wonders that has enamoured the new generation.
Crossing the floor and changing party-colours has never been as easy elsewhere in the country as it is in Goa today. Suffice to say that our legislators have outgrown their parties to chart a course where they, and not their party affiliations, have mattered in local politics. Hence you find the same set of politicians party-hopping every five years to secure their position in the political hierarchy of the state. Goa thus has leaders who, in the course of their long careers, have made it a point to enjoy memberships of a host of political parties before settling for one that affords them an assured seat in the assembly “ and continuing with it as long as the move serves one’s purpose!
Just as in a game of cricket; playing on a sticky wicket, the will to last the whole innings has enabled many a seasoned player to read a googly or bouncer much before it has been delivered, likewise, the desire to have a long and uninterrupted stint in the state’s politics has brought about the culture of party-hopping alive in Goa.
Ideologies and agendas for the new corps of politicians are self-driven and cease to have any meaning once they have served his cause. With the wide choice available from among an array of political parties which permits one the ease of establishing his political worth, the opportunities are unlimited.
Poaching, in the context of hunting of wild animals, is an illegal activity attracting severe penalty. While it is difficult to understand when the word derived political connotation to mean ‘enticing’ opposition members to switch sides, this inducement however does not come cheap either.
Poaching and horse-trading have somehow become synonymous in today’s politics. Engaging in hard and shrewd bargaining, a lot of horse-trading has been witnessed in recent times whenever various parties and coalitions have frantically tried to form governments.
Just 2 years back, Mandrem and Shiroda rejected their respective sitting legislators from the BJP to elect Congress candidates to the assembly. The clear mandate against the BJP in these constituencies notwithstanding, the BJP was audacious enough to have these two turncoats foisted on the electorate as the party’s official nominees.
What could be more absurd than having the same set of contenders contesting another election for the same seats they had vacated or lost in the preceding one, but on different party affiliations, certain that the voters would have a change of heart in their favour this time!
Rejoining the Congress, ex-BJP minister Mahadev Naik’s avowal that he would teach the saffron brigade a lesson clearly smacks of political opportunism that promises the electoral ‘resurrection’ of a number of leaders who have been languishing in political oblivion since the 2017 elections in the state.
The Ghar wapasi of former Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar is also evident of this blatant truth! It is however a wonder that individuals who in their individual capacity as separate power-centers in the state’s politics ruled the roost during their tenure in the government are considered spent-forces no sooner they are out of political reckoning after their defeat in the polls throws a veil of uncertainty over the whole exercise.
But when it becomes apparent that they are being eagerly sought after in the event of future elections, there is every reason to feel miffed at the outrageous proceedings!
This trend is however typical of the bankruptcy of alternatives that stares every political dispensation when it has to approach the electorate when polls for the state assembly or LS are announced.
It is however a shame that the body of voters in both the constituencies going for by-polls have very meekly accepted the decision of both the Congress and the BJP leadership to have the ‘recycled waste’ heaped on them as aspirants for the two seats.
Rejecting this imposition, Mandrekars and Shirodkars should have united against the farce being played out and collectively decided on alternatives to challenge the highhandedness of the local party honchos in taking the electorate for granted.
The Mandrem and Shorida by-elections, in fact, should have had the BJP and Congress initiating steps to introduce their second line of action which would center around the fielding of fresh candidates known for their dynamism and leadership qualities locking horns with each other to usurp power in the respective constituencies for their parties.
But none of the political outfits in the state have believed in nurturing future prospects, instead continuing to rely on familiar faces to represent them, the political affiliations of the ‘opted’ leaders notwithstanding.
While the saffron brigade has gone in a huddle, Congress has been quite effusive with its promises of rehabilitating almost every disgruntled BJP leader, if they wish.
With the clamour over elections to the local self-governing bodies being conducted along party lines gaining momentum by the day, it would not be wrong to assume that village panchayats and municipal councils could be depended upon to produce the next generation of leaders. With a majority of the councilors from Mapusa Council staking their claim for the coveted seat, that the BJP is in a quandary over naming a worthy candidate to carry forward the legacy of Francis D’Souza, more than vindicates the contention.
