THE CHANGE GOANS DID NOT WELCOME by Nisser Dias

At the recently concluded Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP), the constituents of the capital city let a golden opportunity to bring about a change go by. A change not in terms of developments, a change not in terms of one man or a party having the last word on what Panjimites need, but a change that would allow them to voice their opinion or suggestion for the betterment of Panjim and its people.

Panjimites would have a say in the administration and functioning thereby bringing about transparency in CCP had they cast their franchise for candidates fielded by socio-political groups like Panajiites Initiative for Change (PINC) and Friends of Good Governance.

It is very evident that the CCP constituents have not voted for individual candidates but either for one man that is Education Minister Babush Monseratte or for the BJP. ‘Know it all’ Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar seems to thought that after exposing large scale corruption of the Congress led government for the last five years he could get majority of his candidates elected to take control of CCP, however he should have realised that people of the state and not only of his constituency still remember that he mentored and nurtured the political career of Taleigao MLA, who has now come to haunt him on his home turf.

The methods used by both the BJP and Babush Monseratte to lure the voters are an open secret and does not need elaboration. However the results of elections have thrown up interesting questions like what is the percentage of gullible voters that can be influenced with cash, goodies or pep talks and even communal brain washing. It is a perception in other parts of the state that cream of the Goan society lives in Panjim, is this section of population also susceptible to such influences, otherwise why was not a single candidate fielded by PINC elected. Of course there is Surendra and Ruth Furtado to whom PINC had extended their support, but Surendra has his own vote bank and this is evident from the fact that he has won PMC or CCP election for five successive terms so it cannot be said that their success is due to PINC.

The only one positive that can be drawn from the CCP elections is the fact that some section of the elite for whom casting their ballot was not a priority at all voted with the intention of keeping Babush Monserrate at bay. This could be credited to PINC whose efforts to drill this aspect into the voters that it is not only a must to keep Education minister away but also to put an end to Vishwajit Rane – Babush Monseratte brand of politics paid off to a certain extent. The strong man of Taleigao was striving with all his money power to capture as many as 27 seats, but was restricted at 16 with two wards of Taleigao also revolting against him.

Goans were expecting a change, especially because of the involvement of Dr. Oscar Rebello through PINC who also managed to get other physicians on board to support candidates fielded by them. Some BJP candidates to whom PINC had extended tacit support have got elected but independent candidates who had the exclusive support of PINC and NCP candidates had to bite the dust.

CCP elections were a closely watched affair as there is an urgent need to change the entire lot of legislators at the next assembly elections. The agenda of the current set of ministers is keep on fattening their personal bank balances and cling on to power so that they can derail any investigation into their disproportionate wealth and assets. Congress MLAs are also not far away, they are happy getting their pie wherever they can and some even get a share of the ministers loot. Electing BJP to power is also not the solution as their first programme would be to fill the party coffers.

Goans were minutely observing the trend whether voters of Panjim would buck the horse and elect socio-political candidates, it is sad that it did not happen however though more the half the strength of CCP are new faces. The only hindrance is that the new faces are affiliated to either Babush or BJP, which means they will be remote controlled and will not have an independent say in the functioning of CCP. The change that we required was elected representatives who could work, think and act independently without the baggage of satisfying political mentors or bosses.

As I was saying earlier the next elections are crucial if we are to save whatever is left of Goa. It is because it is going to be a family affair for most of the ministers. If Ranes and Dhavlikars had started the trend of bringing kith and kin in politics, the coming election will see a horde of ministers bring in their families into political in a bid to augment their bargaining power for lucrative portfolios so that Goa can be sold to the highest bidder and Goans can bled till the last drop of their blood.

Panjimites has throw up a mixed mandate which is not a very healthy trend. This trend still indicates that money plays a major role in winning election and this needs to be controlled or overruled by the thinking class of people who should come together as one force and make their sincere vote count against purchasable vote. For this to happen PINC and Friends of Good Governance should keep the tempo going by addressing the masses throughout Goa using various forums and forms of propoganda.