Goa is political boiling pot
Goa after liberation in 1961 joined the main stream of Indian political system.The colonial hangover still persists with remnants showing its effects . It is progressed with leaps and bounds compared to 450 years of colonial rule.But the nostalgia is not yet abandoned . The union territory status permitted Goans to adjust and decide . The MGP and United Goans were focussed on merger and non merger .The Ghost of merger was laid to rest and both parties tried to reinvent but failed MGP founders embraced Congress but some die hard managed to survive it, till it now has also lost its shine.The status of state and language kept political pot boiling till it was achieved. No issues thereafter kept Goans glued to grandiose dreams.Congress entered the fray and swallowed all local outfits to emerge as party, secular and for development agenda.The idea made sense as local politicians were feathering their own nests Slowly ,new outfits under different labels ebbed out sooner than later .BJP flew on the wings of MGP ,the oldest party was extinguished out of relevance and is gasping for breath at the moment.Currently BJP as the national party has managed to dig its foot into Goan politics , while GFP is making waves with APP trying and testing political waters with no success.The resignation of APP representative has put a break into its future plans and is a temporary setback. The Goans have assumed notoriety at all India level for changing parties, becoming CM,s , defections ,floor crossing at drop of hat, that has taught Indian politicians something to note seriously of new experiments of political games.The breed of selfish politicians have their own axe to grind and voters also seem to favour defectors and corrupt individuals to survive and flourish Presently it looks like that voters are fed up with fly by night local parties trying to create political space and then sliding into ruling party combine, abandoning its avowed aims,deceiving voters on promises of development in a bid for personal ambitions. The old and spent political forces still survive on brute money and muscle power to sway opinions in theur favour and continue to be on political map of Goa The hope of new faces, young and dynamic have also fallen prey to greed of power, positions, influence and perks unlimited. THE emerging dominance of BJP does not agur well for democratic ,effective opposition. The defection en mass of congress legislators is a serious matter to voters of trust betrayal. The sheer size of the State is subject to political machinations of permutations and combinations, inspite of boasting of an educated electorate . The large influx of the migrants is not only changing demographic status but concentrated pockets are also tilting the political fortunes and scales It is time that traditional Goan politics rooted in religuous divide for its survival is further accentuated by National party,openly spousing the cause of majority sentiment to the hilt. HENCE Goans need to consider a viable alternative to politics of hate, exclusion and divisions on religious consideration. APP, , which has survived massive political onslauhht in Delhi elections and decimated BJP might surely merits the choice to extend the progressive, people orienred policies to the State of Goa It is time that Goans bite the bullet and usher in Change from old wine in new bottle syndrome Nelson Lopes Chinchinim