'Goa Forward' has got to get its priorities right before 2017 Assembly election.

By Nisser Dias

Yet another regional party has formed and christened as ‘Goa Forward’. And just like any other political party, be it National or Regional, promises made are galore but are hardly fulfilled at the end of the term. The captains make us believe them that they will us the heaven but we always end up deeper in hell.

Goa Forward too does not seem to inspire the confidence of the people at large and one cannot pander the sentiments of Goans and coconut trees and win elections. At the onset there are ideological differences among the three driving forces namely Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal behind the fledgling party.

Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai

How can the Goans even think of aligning with Sawal when as recently as this year wanted to move a Private member’s Bill in Assembly seeking official status to Marathi on par with Konkani.



Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte

Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal

How can Goan voters even entertain such thoughts. It is like this Independent legislator wants to enjoy the status as an MLA of Goa but his heart and soul is in Maharashtra.

Otherwise too, it seems that a casual approach has been adopted during the formation of the party. Credible personality like Prabhakar Timble have soiled his hands being a part of political outfit as he could not convincingly answer the barrage of questions posed to him by journalists.

His fumbled while answering some of the most important issues facing Goa today. For example he said, “The party is also in the process of preparing a detailed agenda on industry, service sector, tourism, solid waste management, agriculture, education, health, housing, real estate, governance, women and youth empowerment”.

The promoters of the party should have first discussed, debated, set their policy right and then publicly announce floating of a new party. When there is no clear line of thought or agenda for such important sectors, can the voters of Goa surrender the future fate of Goa with ‘Goa Forward’?

Party President Prabhakar Timble



Then we have issues like construction of airport at Mopa. This is major concern today as the State is being divided horizontally, North Goa and South Goa which is not very healthy trend.

Then we are being divided on basis of religion or the Medium of Instruction issue. Yes, Professor Timble has said that the party has constituted a 10-member committee of experts to study the issue of Medium of Instruction scientifically rather than politically, which would be ready by 15 February. In his own words. “the whole issue is caught up between the child studying in mother tongue and the freedom of choice of the parent. The UNESCO has also changed its stand recently”.

Parents needed a concrete stand on this issue from “Goa Forward”. Being an academician, much concise statement was expected. Such a loose statement have been made by politicians from the BJP and Congress but when it comes to endorsing through amendment, legislation most of the politicians and political party tend to either distance themselves or allow the confusion to continue. Statement such as these, compromises Prabhakar Timble position.

Education and Health are considered to be the focal point of any governance because these two sectors are directly connected with the younger generation and population and both are in bad shape. Neither the Congress nor the BJP could give it the requisite direction and hence both the sectors are in doldrums.

I have already discussed part of the mess Education sector in Goa is facing, the other part is syllabus which urgently requires to be overhauled to suit modern times. For example students are made to learn history of Poland which is unnecessary and in the bargain India’s or Goa’s history is not given importance. Large portion of Geography has become obsolete but we continue to teach our students the same old geography which must have been written 50 years ago.

Coming to Health sector, government run hospitals are in a pathetic state. Goa Medical College (GMC) itself has chronic cancer due to negligence of the successive governments. Hospicio in Margao is not fit for animals to be housed and similar is the case with most of our primary health centres. I can easily state that the BJP has paid the least attention to Health sector and allowed it to be terminally ill.

The District Hospital at Fatorda which was started during Congress regime by former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at the cost of hundred of crores of rupees was totally neglected by the BJP government. ‘Goa Forward’ has not spelt out its views on the health sector.

Basically, ‘Goa Forward’ as a political outfit is a brain-child of Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai has created a space for itself on the political canvas of Goa but fell short of spelling out the party’s views for the public that is looking forward for drastic change in socio-political scenario.

The press conference by Prabhakar Timble did not really ignite that burst of confidence in the voters as he was not very convincing. At the same time his comments that Shah Commission which recommended recovery of Rs. 35,000cr. from mining companies is not a judicial authority and that no judicial authority has passed any  order to recover the amount has created doubts in the minds of the voters about the personal motives and agendas of all the three MLAs backing the nascent political outfit.

Back of their mind, the voters know that ‘Goa Forward’ is a Vijay driven and Prabhakar Timble is just the Front. All over the State, Fatorda legislator’s rating are seen as the highest as he has been the sole Opposition to the BJP with Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco coming to close second. Of course Reginaldo has to carry the Congress baggage along, so to some extent he had to restrain himself as he knows the mess created by his own party during its rule.

At the same time we should also not forget that excellent Opposition Leaders do not make excellent Chief Ministers or rulers. Manohar Parrikar is an apt example of it.

That besides the point, undoubtedly ‘Goa Forward’ has got a head-start with all their flaws but as day closes-in for the election 2017, they have lot of spade-work to do to build the voter’s trust.

I can imagine that BJP will be in full force to tarnish the image of Vijay Sardessai. That he built his residence amidst agricultural property, that he sold land in Goa to outsiders. He should be ready with retorts.

But more than that ‘Goa Forward’ should put its head together on issues that are dogging Goa and come out with solution that is appealing to the majority of Goan population irrespective of caste, religion and political affiliation.

Such consensus cannot be done sitting in air-conditioned boardrooms, hotel lounges or suites and closed-door consultation. This has to be done at the ground level, interacting with people under the sun, by observing the views of the public, learning the aspiration of the parents and being the part of the solution and not the problem.

If Vijay Sardessai along with ‘Goa Forward’ can undertake such an exercise and feel the pulse of every section of the society, than this nascent party has my vote.

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