It's surprising that Floriano Lobo has mixed up my two posts, though he has commented on my views of his Goa Su-Raj party. Parties are born and parties die. Goa, like the rest of India, had its share of new parties rising and fading away. The United Goans Party is a prime example and a recent news item carried on goanet tells us about the slow death of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. Both UG and MGP were promoted as Goa's regional party and both held considerable influence and power. The demise of UG is a sad tale from first getting splitted and eventually going under. The MGP has also seen splits and those who were once the party's greatest assets have either gone away from the political scene or joined other parties. The UGDP hoped to replace the UG but sadly it also ran into the same problems that saw the demise of UG. internal wrangling and ego clashes has reduced the party to its current state. Those like Churchill and Mickky Pacheco and probably others have deserted the party for either personal gains or for disagreement with some office-bearers. The party, I believe, is now a family affair of brothers-in-law Radharao Gracias and Anacleto Viegas. This is the very sort of thing that ruins political party. The UG wasn't anchored in dynastic rule, though the selection of Erasmo de Sequeira as the candidate for the parliamentary elections could have been of his father's, Dr. Jack de Sequeira's, hold on the party. Erasmo jumped ship and joined the Sawtantra Party and continued to remain the party's, founded by C. Rajagopalachari, MP in the next election when he was, I think, defeated. Erasmo was a fine speaker but the party's Piloo Mody was not only very vocal but one of the best orators Indian parliament has seen. He was humourous and his physical size made him a butt of many jokes. Mathany Saldanha's Goyacho Lok Pokx (I hope I have the name right) was also on the lines of Goa Su-Raj with a difference. It had Mathany as its big star. That it merged with UGDP was good as the party would not make a big impact on its own. When the UGDP was born, I felt it was going to make a difference. I don't remember if Churchill actually spearheaded the formation of the party or he was made part of it because of his popularity or, rather, notoriety. Whatever his role and contribution, he added colour and zest and a bunch of jokes that still make the rounds in Goa. I understand Goa Su-Raj's problems and the founders' decision to stick to its founding principles. However, the one problem is forsee is that parties who stick rigidly to guidelines and rules don't last long, at least in India. In Indian politics, parties need to bend their rules to meet the changing political demands and needs. The UG stuck to its armchair politics and paid a heavy price. It was also rooted in the Sequeira family and that was one reason for its collapse. The break-away group failed to round up resources and without the financial muscles that the original UG party had, the breakaway group was unable to march ahead. The Congress break-ups, such as Congress-I and also one headed by Atulya Ghosh (forget what it was called. Maybe Syndicate Congress. I don't have my books here in Dubai) and now the National Congress Party, managed to survive and are still surviving because of strong financial backing. The Goa Su-Raj, as Floriano explains, is a "babe" and needs to grow into adulthood. But so was Lok Pokx and maybe merger with UGDP was one of the best options it. If Goa Su-Raj party can hope to make a dent in Goa's political landscape on its own, it going to be tough and very challenging. It also raises the question whether the Goan voters can accommodate another party.
Eugene Correia __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################