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Written & Directed by: Simon Gonsalves
Venue: Rumaithiya Auditorium - Kuwait Date: 19th November 2004
www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter, since 1994
No: 40 Assembly Constituency Poinguinim Canacona Taluka
Polling day 13.10.2004
Polling from 0800 hrs to 1500 hrs (IST)
National Parties
Bharatiya Janata Party Mr Isidore Fernandes +LOTUS
Indian National Congress Mr Jagdish Acharya +HAND
Poinguinim in Canacona Taluka with Pollem check post South of Goa borders the State of Karnataka. The bye election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of the sitting MLA Mr Isidore Fernandes of the Indian National Congress
Party. He then sought the membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and decided to stage a come back to the Legislative Assembly. 
The reason attributed for his RESIGNATION :a) non "development "of his Poinguinim constituency
b) failure of his Indian National Congress Party now in the Opposition benches in the State to form an alternate Government and regain power despite repeated attempts.
c) to abide by the December 2003 amended "anti defection laws " which postulates that one should resign to switch parties.
For the 14690 electorate - 7488 men and 7202 women - the issues before them: I) a) Which POLITICAL PARTY can be RELIED upon to bring about the repeatedly promised "DEVELOPMENT" of the Constituency to its logical conclusion.
"DEVELOPMENT" means solving:
a)problems of "kumeri" cultivators, permitting horticulture, rehabilitation of 736 persons with alternative agricultural land as presently produce from the forest areas cannot be taken out of Cotigao Wildlife sanctuary (formed in 1967 by Dayanand Bandodkar Goa's first CM);
b)"pucca" interior roads;
c)access to efficient and reliable public transport;
d)completion of bridges across Galgibag and Talpona rivers (People today need to take a detour via road 12 kms to get on the otherside which is otherwise just 500 mts and 600 mts in lenght respectively across the river by small boats (but is dangerous in monsoons)where the proposed bridges are desired;
e) employment prospects for able bodied persons in organised sector viz private /government sector OR self employment opportunities OR prospects in traditional occupations in unorganised sector;
f)harnessing Chapoli dam water to ensure year round potable water for irrigation agricultural;
g) augmentation of water supply - by construction of a dam at Karvan;
h)solving the perenial post monsoons water problem;
i) setting up an industrial estate;
j) uninterrupted power supply and power lines in some interior villages still under forest cover.
II) WHETHER the sudden resignation and subsequent switching of political loyalties by the sitting MLA Mr Isidore
Fernandes (otherwise elected for a five year term) forcing a bye elections though legally right as per the amended anti Defection law is justified ---on the grounds of "Development" and with just over two and half years for the completion of the term of this Assembly (June 2007) is morally justified ? OR will such a stunt of abrupt resignations not result in setting a precedent elsewhere -- necessitating frequent bye elections and thereby non development ? since" Model code of conduct for elections" does not permit any fresh policy decision on governance or development activity in the District where bye-elections are announced.
III) Which of the two candidates in the fray if elected on a personal basis is: a) easily accessible to the electorate; AND
b) capable of forcefully pursuing the issues of the electorate to its logical conclusion.
IV) Will the victorious candidate cause an impact on STABILITY of the present BJP led coalition government or usher in a fresh permutation and combinations between the Treasury & Opposition benches in view of the changed dispensation ruling at the Centre in New Delhi, thereby resulting in fall of the present BJP led Government( ruling since 24 Octoner 2004 and for a second term,since June 2002).
V) Will the HINDUTVA or SECULAR card be the decider? This writer covered the entire constituency in a day long tour discreetly conducted a tete a tete with voters on the eve of polling day from the twenty one polling stations (11 having a Ctholic Hindu combine 7609 voters and 10 exclusively Hindu voters 7081 mainly tribals "van vasi" in Poinguinim - Loliem - Maxem - Polem - Gaondongirir - Sadolxem and Coitgao having as low as 196 voters (Pratagal) to as high as 1109 voters (Avem) to gauge their opinion on the five issues.
The ground reality. Like it, or not, in India politics is based on caste combinations & equations. In Poinguinim this factor is not discounted. There
is an appreciable level of tolerance among voters of different caste and religious combine mainly because the economic and development problems are common. No doubt education has reached the electorate to a considerable extent even in the interiors. The voters even in the remote village of Cotigao and Keri were aware of the nuances of present day politics, as many of them move to towns selling their produce or performing legendry folk dances at important events in the State before distinguished audiences and TV has also reached some corners even mobile phones are no surprise to the tribals. 
But amidst the modernity the mind set is primitive supertitious, myths abound, animal sacrifices still dictate their lifestyles. There is the
village "Budhvont" still calling the shots. There is the "Rakhondar" saviour against evils. The Constituency has less than two hundred Saraswat Brahmins, next dominant caste is the Bhandari Samaj Naik Dessais etc, Devadasis (temple women) Pagis (fisherfolk) Bandekars (toddy tappers) all denominated as Other Backward Classes, besides the Schedule Tribes viz; Gawdas Kunbis, Velips and goat rearing community Dhangars, which account for 4378 votes. The Dhangars are still not included as schedules tribes and hence are antagonised by the present government. There is a fair share of people from neighbouring Uttar Kanara but they belong to the same Bhandari community (except for slant in Konkani accent). 
The Cristaos there are mainly Sudhirs belonging to traditional castes the toddy tapers, bakers, fishermen and agricluturist. The two political parties have carefully ensured that the elected representatives belonging to the respective communities visit the hamlets (vaddos) to persuade the voters to vote for their party. must not be forgotten that once a lower community member is economically empowered he/she alienates himself from his community and basks under the banner of the upper caste what is called as "noveau riche". One clear proof of this is the public admission made at a corner meeting by Canacona MLA Mr Vijay Pai Khot that being a Brahmin himself he got elected from the Canacona constituency where his
community has not more than 300 votes as against the other castes and Cristaos which constitute the electorate that voted him to power. 
The campaign is door to door. With banners of both the INC and BJP almost alongside. For party workers loyalty is a flag or a cap of the respective sported/worn on vehicle/head. Campaigning group of twenty get Rs 1000 per day. There were no "new motorcycles" donated in sight. There are songs blaring from speakers fitted on vehicles composed of traditional Konkani folk songs rhymed to support the respective candidates. The tempos carrying supporters move around villages just to keep the "heat" on at the end of lunch break a frugal "xit codi and nistem" is offered in designated "khanawodies" hotels. The bills are taken care of by the respective parties. The emphasis is on booth committees. After all it is these booth committees that will have to ensure that the voters do turn up on polling day and vote. Nothing can be taken for granted. There is no pressing emotive issue yet that will attract the voter to the polling booth. While the Indian National Congress rake up "Hindutva" ideology and communalism of the right wing Hindu fundamentalist party and filed a police complaint against VHP leader Dr Pravin Togadia over an interview on the Konkani (devanagiri script)
Sunaparant branding Catholics and Hindus as demonic (Rahu Ketu) the BJP's campaign talks only of four years development under the able leadership of Mr Manohar Parrikar led government constituting dynamic young leaders.
It is a purely MGP/INC development v/s Parrikars 4 years (24/10/2000 to 24/10/2004) development. The lotus symbol is prominent but a faded miniature face cut of Atal Behari Vajpayee appears on the banners. There is no talk of Vajpayee either and none of the national leaders have indulged in campaigning thus far for the BJP. To assuage the fear of Cristaos they cite the case of first candidate Mr Francisco D Souza MLA Mapusa and Law Minister having won on a BJP ticket in June 2002. The appeal for votes for Mr Isidore Fernandes is more on his personal charisma and Mr Parrikars governance. The INC candidate an over 10 years ex-Sarpanch and MLA with a history of defections and above all brought back
unwillingly from political hibernation. He presently lives in Margao to pursue his childrens education, on his own admission. This is used as a bait by BJP campaigners to spell out the bankruptcy in the INC for good candidates. Mr Acharya incidentally was an MGP MLA earlier. 
The Alemao brothers MLA Joaquim and MP Churchill do most of the campaigning with Mr Vijay Sardessai as their "Man Friday". Cashew King Mr Harish Zantye appeals to caste brethren and his Velips who help collect cashew nuts from the forest. For once we see the INC and National Congress Party MLAs sharing seats. There is a little vocal "Lok Shakti" mainly a two man party of Mr Datta Naik and Mr Arvind Bhatikar IAS ex MPT Chairman who has lent support to the INC candidate and Goa Suraj Party has made supportive appeals in the print media. Dr Wilfred De Souza of National Congress Party and Dr Kashinath Jhalmi of the MGP have all lent support to INC candidate. Their semblance of "physical unity" at electioneering time makes them a
subject of ridicule as otherwise they "tear" apart each other post elections. Mr Atanasio Monserrate Taleigao MLA has been overseeing the campaign of Mr Isidore and after his success in the Taleigao VP elections where his handpicked outfit won a convincing majority with wife in tow. The Poinguinim elections appears peanuts to Mr Monserrates organisational capabilities. 
The UGDP is a divided force Mr Radharao Gracias ex MLA Loutolim and Advocate with his hilarious one liners regales the audience he is supporting Mr Isidore Fernandes. He approves of Mr Isidore decision to resign and change parties. Next he assuages the Cristaos not to worry about Goa BJP. To make a point he states that in Goa there are 28%
Catholics. The present four Cristao Ministers Mr Babush Monseratte(UGDP/BJP - Taleigao); Mr Francisco D Souza (BJP Mapusa); Mr Mathany Saldhana (UGDP Cortalim); and Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues (Ind) Velim besides the fifth one soon to come Mr Isidore Fernandes MLA elect BJP Poinguinim are more than adequate to represent the
intersts of Cristaos in the cabinet of 12 Ministers.
There is a slight hint in his blunt rhethorics that at the next hustings in May / Jun 2007 the Cristao Ministers may see reason in contesting on the United Goans Democratic Party as the genuine party protecting the ideologies of the Cristao Goencars and relegating the ever squabbling INC seasoned MLAs into limbo. This ironically is the feelings of all INC
supporters in Goa. With delimitation of constituencies and this is the last election for Poinguinim the next time it will be merged into one Constituency Canacona. Therefore the sitting Canacona MLA Mr Vijay Pai Khot a BJP candidate is moving alongside Mr Isidore to consolidate his vote bank for the final kill in June 2007. 
The views of the voters are collated for the sake of brevity. On issue (I) -- Yes -- Mr Parrikar led Government can be relied upon to carry out the development.
They cite the instance of the state of art Canacona Bus stand inaugurated recently which is a cynosure of all eyes. Only locals man the various activities at the bus stand. The near completion of Hospital at Canacona to take care of dialysis required for renal failure and other water borne complication will not necessitate the villagers to go to Bambolim. The self help groups provide sustainable self employment. The constitution of a committee to look into the rehabilitation programme of Cotigao villagers. The recognition of tribals and setting up of a Finance Corporation for them is appreciated. Only the Dhangars deserve justice they say. The technicalities need to be settled and Dhangars qualified as STs. These instances are quoted as INC and MGP failed miserably during their terms of over 17 and 19 years respectively. The voters say "we gave them MLAs MPs and Ministers but all let us down".
The bridge across Galgibaga and Talpona rivers is a dilema for all political parties. No doubt a bridge 1 Km in lenght put together will solve the problem of people of Galgibaga and Talpona etc. It will also reduce the distance presently along the NH 17 from Mashem Loliem to Canacona by 12 kms. But these bridges do not come on the NH 17 and hence it is the State Government to finance them or the MPs two crore funds. But what happens to business activity along the present NH route? It would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul. So promises notwithstanding and fear of alienating one section of voters to woo another Mr Parrikar made an unqualified assurance that come 26 January 2005 the Foundation for the bridges will be laid and completion
expected in a year or two. 
Industrial estate is expected and assurances on a new Power line avoiding passing through the forest will be in place and work is already underway. The cyberage scheme, the "Kamedhenu" scheme, the marketing facilities for horticulture and the Rs 525 pension to destitutes are instances cited.In fact the voters place more confidence on Mr Parrikars Government. There is no doubt that Mr Parrikar has paid the highest number of visits to Canancona Taluka and he means business and straight talk. II) Voters are divided on whether the resignation was necessitated given just two and half years. There is also a eerie silence on the real circumstances of the resignations. Yes "development" could be an alibi -- they say as today development is the topmost in the minds of voters -- they say Goa lags behind badly. If this resignation can bring about a better tommorrow nothing like it. As regards similar other resignation to boost the strenght of the ruling dispensation. They say that there may be no cause for such resignations. Hence no fear of instability.
III) Most voters are unanimous of the fact that Mr Isidore is indeed a workaholic, he is a field man. On his own admission he has done errands since childhood. He has admitted to be a vagabond and done everything one could imagine of a street smart person. Above all he believes in creating wealth and parting with it too for the less fortunate. Against this background Mr Jagdish Acharya INC candidate they say
that being pulled up from political hibernation is a disincentive. If the lethargy in contesting was visible on day one how could he be effective once elected. Moreover the numbers in the Opposition are far less than the half way mark of 21. Worse even in this precarious scenario the INC has yet not been bold to spell out their probable CM and twelve ministers if the INC candidate wins and a new configuration comes in place. Mere "Wait and see" answer is not taken kindly by the voters even the INC voters are agree on this weak point of the INC MLAs. The fear of instability of the nineties is too grim. Hence Mr Isidore they say is a better horse to back. 
The Hindutva and Secular card does not have much takers even the Church has
been silent in this bye elections. Many Cristaos confided that Mr Parrikar is definitely a better CM that we have seen and what he has done for four years is reason enough to believe in his statesmanship and foresight. Given a comfortable majority he would be able to divert his energies fully towards development, rather than having to pay attention to the manouevres of his MLAs and the opposition. Hence a vote for him is a must they say. 
But there is an underlying remote fear as well. Would the Cristao vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party which has done so much harm to the Catholic Missionaries the nuns provide them the BJP a handle to ride roughshod over the Cristaos. The abolition restoration of Good Friday, the burning of the Sanguem Church door. Will
it not consolidate the Hindu vote and relegate us to second class citizens? They ask. Yes for Cristaos "development is important but not over my dead body they say and also assure that they would rather stay away from voting rather than allow the lotus to bloom. But this thought is given by a miniscule few. Infact they argue that such threats by the BJP will only consolidate the Cristaos who are otherwise known to run down their own numbers.
It is therefore clear that unless some developments of an unsavoury nature takes place from 1700 hrs on 11/10/2004 to polling day 0800 hrs 13/10/2004 the BJP candidate Mr Isidore Fernandes has a clear edge over the INC candidate Mr Jagdish Acharya. It will then be a hat trick for Mr Isidore Fernandes
and he may have the singular distinction of not only being the first sitting MLA to resign change parties and seek re-election but also the first to win as an Independent, then as candidate of INC and now at this election as a candidate of BJP placing personal charisma over party ideology. Interestingly it may be noted that Mr Isidore is a resident of St Inez and was ex councilor of then Panaji Municipal council before he contested from Poinguinim after statehood. He is a native of Poinguinim though. 
In and Around Canacona (in pictures)
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