Whom do we vote for this Assembly Election? Goa in catch-22 situation.

By Nisser Dias                                                                                         

While ushering in the year 2012, every Goan was awaiting the general elections. Reason being we had reached a saturation point wherein we just could not accept the astronomical levels of corruption of the Congress led government. Not to forget Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) was also part and parcel of this government.

In the election that ensued on 3^rd March 2012, Goans cast their ballot decisively. Congress received a drubbing at the electoral battle and was reduced to a single digit in the Legislative Assembly.

BJP bounced back to power after sitting in the Opposition for seven long years with a majority or rather as the single largest party. To some extent there was a sigh of relief. People’s aspirations were further elevated with Manohar Parrikar after taking oath as then Chief Minister announcing his grand plan of ‘Zero tolerance to corruption’, setting-up of Lokayukta in 100 days and many other promises and assurances.

Sadly, the BJP government turned out to be as bad if not worse than the Congress led government. Corruption at every level of governance rose to dizzying heights. Only difference was that corruption took a sophisticated turn. The ugly head of communalism emerged back again and the fringe elements belonging to the party or its parent organisation, the RSS became boastful and violent.

Within six months in power people’s hopes were dashed then chief minister Manohar Parrikar by reviving construction of airport at Mopa against the wishes of people, construction of third bridge over river Mandovi, when priority should have been given to construction of a bridge over Zuari river. This is what is called sophisticated corruption. There are many are instances like scam in e-tendering and others and it would take volumes to note all down.

People lost all the faith in BJP government with Parrikar as Chief Minister when he could bring to book the culprit who raped a minor girl in a school. This was the pits, infact one can safely say, had he agreed to the people’s demand to transfer the case to CBI, the victim might have got justice. But he thought his police were capable who bundled up the investigations and only when the trail of the rapist had gone cold did he hand over the case to CBI.

One could safely say that Manohar Parrikar’s third tenure as Chief Minister was poor.

The question that arises is whether he was elevated to Centre as Defence Minister as a face saving exercise or cover-up his bungling of State administration on for his number of U-turns? Incidently it is seen as he is also not doing a job at the Centre. Recently India Today in its esteemed magazine had stated that Parrikar left meeting with the three Chiefs of Defence (Navy, Army and Air Force) half way to fly to Goa. It is an open secret that he is in Goa from Friday to Sunday. He has been criticized for being in Goa while terrorists attacked the biggest defence base in India at Pathankot last week.

The present scenario under present Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is not any better. And for his bad even his own brother-in-law was nabbed red-handed and arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau for accepting bribe. Sadly, the upright superintendent of police and the police inspector who carried out the operation have since been hauled-up, abused and transferred to obscure posting in the police department.

We have experienced corruption during Congress rule and are presently undergoing the trauma of seeing corrupt and communal rule of the BJP. Hence what is the option before us? Whom do we vote for?

National political parties have let Goa down, regional parties have been a no-show in the state largely because of the involvement of certain personalities. The only untested political outfit which neither can said to be national nor can be termed as regional is AAP.

But that too is ruled over by an IITian who at times can be despotic and arrogant. At the same what is the presence of AAP here in Goa. Though there is skeleton presence in the State, it lacks ground network, dedicated workers. There are some high profile members but they too do not have mass base.

Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai the lone opposition voice in the Goa Assembly is trying his best to drub-up support for a regional outfit along with some other MLAs. Will the voters accept them is a question mark.

Hence Goans will be in real catch-22 situation for the rapidly nearing elections which will be held either during the fag end of 2016 or early 2017.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS, whatsapp  9422437029)