ISSUES IN POINGUINIM
IT IS MORE THAN just another bye-election. The
Poinguinim bye-election has very serious implications
for the state of Goa. The outcome of the elections
will not only affect political parties but impinge on
the lives of the ordinary citizens. Not only on the
lives of the residents of Poinguinim constituency. But
every resident of Goa. This is because the Poinguinim
bye-elections will decided whether money and muscle
power will become the dominant factor in Goan
politics.
Let us dwell for a moment purely on the political
implications of the Poinguinim bye-elections. If the
Congress-turned-BJP candidate, Isidore Fernandes,
wins, it will greatly strengthen the BJP in the State.
Isidore�s victory by itself will not give the BJP the
absolute majority it is seeking through deceit and
manipulation. But the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar
is on record that more Congress MLAs will follow
Isidore�s example if the BJP wins the Poinguinim seat.
If three more Congress MLAs decide to resign their
seats the BJP will achieve its objective of securing
an absolute majority. Though Babush Monserrate does
not realise it, it will also enable Parrikar to dump
elements like him. Parrikar is aware that Babush is a
major embarrassment to the BJP. It is a measure of
Parrikar�s genius or deviousness that he has been able
to use Babush to cook the goose of the Taleigao MLA.
If Isidore wins and three other Congress MLAs decide
to emulate Isidore�s example Babush will probably be
dumped as unceremoniously as Micky was.
On the other hand a Congress victory will ensure at
least slowing down if not a complete halt to the
saffronisation of Goa. Let�s not make any mistake
about it. The ultimate objective of the BJP in Goa and
even more of the Sangh Parivar is to convert Goa from
a vibrant model of secular democracy to a Hindutva
state. There is enough and more evidence of the
systematic attempt to marginalise the minority
community in Goa. If the BJP gets an absolute majority
in Goa it will become another Gujarat. The tragedy is
that the Congress in Goa does not seem to appreciate
that an Isidore victory in Poinguinim will spell the
death knell of the Congress. It will inflict a blow on
the Congress which it will take years if not decades
to recover from. It is even more unfortunate that the
Congress High Command does not seem to have understood
the larger implications of the defeat of the Congress
candidate in Poinguinim. What can happen in Goa today
could happen in other Congress-ruled states. And the
Congress at the national level may find its MLAs and
even Members of Parliament quitting to re-contest on
the BJP ticket. There is talk of Rahul Gandhi
campaigning for the Congress. This may or may not help
but what is really needed is greater support from the
Congress High Command for Jagdish Acharya.
The most horrifying dimension of the Poinguinim
bye-elections is the apprehension that it will vastly
enhance the influence of Babush Monserrate. There have
been pure mercenaries and criminal elements in
politics in Goa in the past. But none of them have
been so cold-blooded and single minded in pursuit of
the objective of criminalising Goa. A victory for
Isidore will in the ultimate analysis be a victory for
Babush. And reinforce and strengthen his belief that
everyone can be purchased provided the price is right.
The "Viper from Taleigao" already has plans of
floating a political party. He has already begun to
entertain fantasies of becoming the Chief Minister of
Goa. Indeed, it is neither in the interest of the BJP
or the Congress for Isidore to win. The BJP workers in
Poinguinim have realised this. That is why there is a
large scale revolt within the BJP in Poinguinim
against the candidature of Isidore Fernandes. It is
high time the BJP in Goa wakes up to the fact that
there is very little difference between Manohar
Parrikar and Babush Monserrate. They are birds of the
same feather. Parrikar is already a Hitler. Babush is
hell bent on becoming a Salazar. The bottomline is
every resident of Goa and not just the voters in
Poinguinim have a stake in the bye-elections scheduled
for October, the 13th.
MOG ASSUM RAJAN NARAYAN
_______________________
THE POINGUINIM bye-elections slated for October 13 is
an acid test and will bring to the fore the real face
of Goan politics.
Goan politicians have fought several elections and a
lot of hanky panky has taken place during the past 40
years. But never were they fought in such an organised
manner as done by Isidore Fernandes. In the past there
was lot of floor crossings, defections, back stabbing
and back biting, etc., etc.. But no candidate has ever
set a trend of resigning his seat and contesting
afresh. There is lot of loose talk that a lot of money
has changed hands but those who level these
accusations have no right because these very same
people had adopted the same �modus operandi� in the
past to lure candidates from opposite camps and defect
to sustain governments. There are so many cases under
anti-defection law pending which may not come to
finality and die a premature death.
People who have resorted to all unethical modes to run
governments cannot talk of �ethics,� much less the
GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro and his accomplices.
He is now accusing Manohar Parrikar of engineering the
present episode. Whatever may be the merits or
demerits of the case, Isidore Fernandes has set an
example by resigning and contesting again. No
politician in Goa, or for that matter in the whole of
India, is wedded to ethics, and they cannot point an
accusing finger at others. Those who stay in glass
houses should not throw stones.
Was it not Luizinho Faleiro who was instrumental in
ushering the BJP rule in Goa? Is Francisco Sardinha
not guilty of supporting Manohar Parrikar for the sake
of the coveted chair? Has not the Congress indulged in
blatant corruption to the extent of selling government
land to industrialists at exorbitant cost? Where has
the huge wealth come from for some of them who could
hardly afford a normal life? I have challenged them in
the past and now once again challenge then to come to
an open platform and swear that they do not have ill
gotten wealth. On my part I will tender an unqualified
or unconditional apology at the same platform if they
do it.
The Goan electorate has matured and will not take
things lying down. They are watching the developments.
Isidore Fernandes has only followed in the footsteps
of the past scoundrels. Congress should not shed
crocodile tears now. It is the normal course through
which Goa politics should pass. As you sow so shall
you reap? Soglech chor - all are rogues!
ROGUES GALLERY
A.S. Prabhu, Moira.
(From the GOAN OBSERVER www.goanobserver.com)
- Forwarded by AlmeidaG, www.goa-world.com
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