At Crossroads Again

Goa is once again at crossroads beginning of 2013 after a decisive verdict in March 2012.  People who voted for change are getting disillusioned. Mind you, not all people voted for change. The committed vote banks of mainline parties never get disillusioned. They never see drawbacks, errors or horrors, corruption, scandals or anything for that matter as reason enough to seek change. Their party of choice or their representatives have to continue for ever, come what may. The other party will always be worse in their eyes. They are comfortable and complaisant. This is true of the traditional voters of any party, whether Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party or Communist Party.

Those who seek and bring about change are citizens who do not belong to any party. They are sensitive to what goes on in the society and the state. They hope for the better. They do their bit, big or small, to bring about change. They are many a time taken for a ride by politicians, and soon get disillusioned. They say, and rightly so, the erstwhile rulers were bad but the new ones are hardly better. They ask what is to be done? Has it always to be from the frying pan into the fire? Hope is their only energizer. And if hope is lost then all is lost. 

I am not saying that the performance of the Parrikar government has been bad. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has definitely brought about a refreshing change. There are no divisions in the government, no divisions in the legislature wing of the ruling party, no toppling games from within, and no discordant voices in the party. It is one chief minister, one government unlike twelve chief ministers, one government in the past.  But the one chief minister does not always speak in one definite voice. Instances have been pointed out when consistency has been on the decline. The actions of the chief minister have not always been those expected from the man who is  the immediate past opposition leader. 

Our CM is more than the first among equals in the present ministry. He does not have a challenger from within and no challenger from the opposition as of now. That is why much is expected from him. And it must not be forgotten that he is the architect of the victory of his party in 2012 just as Dr Wilfred D’Souza was the architect of the Congress victory in 1980. But Dr D’Souza  was never allowed to lead the government while Mr Parrikar is leading from the front. And that is why, I repeat, much is expected from him. We do not want to see him ousted before he completes his tenure unless he makes major blunders. He has the mandate to rule as he often keeps saying these days.

The mandate, however, is a democratic one. He has been elected democratically as a democratic ruler. Such a ruler must take all shades of opinion before arriving at decisions. The party manifesto and party ideology as well as personal preferences must be implemented after listening to the public opinion expressed through the media, public platforms, even demonstrations and agitations. The voice of the opposition deserves consideration because it has the backing of a large section of the people who voted for the opposition parties.

It is important that our CM gives priority to those issues that have the backing of all parties and sections of population: better transport, better facilities for education, better infrastructure for healthcare, more non-polluting industries that promote jobs for the local youth, protection of the environment, tourism with values, legally approved and sustainable mining, expediting Regional Plan 2021 to protect land and ecology, and special status for Goa to protect our land for our people. Add to these the primary duty of any government to maintain law, order and peace.  These and some other areas of people oriented development including roads, water, electricity and agriculture are enough to keep the government fully occupied to the satisfaction of the people. The government can tackle divisive issues like the Mopa airport, Khazan land development, etc. at a later date after building consensus.

The people who voted for change last year still hope that CM Parrikar will give top priority to their aspirations which have the backing of all sections of Goa. They hope that their elected CM will not get bogged down with divisive issues. If the CM does not measure up to their hopes, they will have to find or at least begin searching for other leaders who can meet their profound aspirations. The main opposition party is not showing any signs of revival or renewal. Will a third front or a new regional party offer hope?  

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 20.01.2013