Though only 3 days are remaining for the coming Lokh Sabah Election yet the atmosphere looks very dull, normal election fewer has not gained momentum and campaigning is also feeble. In Salcette there is little more noise because both heavyweights Sardinha and Mathanay are making desperate attempts to woo the voters towards them. Mathanay looks to capture many of the votes destined for Sardinha but unlikely to create much impact on voters. His party UGDP is not a reliable party because its candidates themselves are not reliable for UGDP. Once elected on UGDP symbol, its candidates shows “KONKO” to party and its manifesto as Mathanay did by joining BJP. Sardinah looks gaining some advantage because he is the Congress candidate yet his road towards final destination will be full of hurdles. Between the two, Mathanay is liked by the people at large yet Sardinha is likely to gain advantage because Christian voters have no other choice but to take shelter in fake secular Congress. People in Goa in general and Christians in particular vote for Congress not because they love Congress but because there is no other choice for them and taking advantage of this dilemma, Congress is taking Christian votes for granted. Otherwise Congress is the big disaster for Christians in Goa. Not only of Goa but all the ills of INDIA are the making of Congress. Recently Lalu Prasad said Babri Majid demolition was also the responsibility of Congress. Congress premier Narashinva Rao was at that time sleeping in Delhi while all the Kar Sevaks were coming with their Pickaxes from all over India including from Goa to demolish Babri Masjid. And yet Congress said it is Secular. The other candidates will be just passengers to fill in the blanks and not to create any major dent though BJP will give stiff competition for Sardinha. May be due to the splits of votes between Sardinha and Mathanay, BJP by fluke get this seat.
In the North BJP is likely to retain its seat while Congress candidate backed by others will have to sweat a lot to garner sufficient voters to gain victory. Jitendra Deshprabhu is not a heavyweight and because it is so he was earlier at Goa level rejected by the voters. Communist Party candidate Christopher Fonseca is making some noise on Loudspeakers. He was one of the trustees of Novem Goem Pratishtan and its general secretary. In this NGP move he let Konkani lovers down because he proved to be a weak administrator. He is good to lead workers as trade union leader. Konkani lovers dislike him and I think no Konkani lover will vote for him for his mishandling of NGP along with other trustees. He joined the election as communist candidate just to fill in the blank. I don’t think there is any need for communists now. Even in Russia, communism is come to an end. In India it still exists because its leaders want it like that for their own survival in public life.
According to my information, at the last hour Money Power will play a major role followed by “soro” power and also Sex power. In Goa though people call themselves advanced yet politically they are very backward especially the Christians because our leadership at Altinho Panjim is weak. Top political parties and their candidates it looks will pour money at the eleventh hour to purchase votes from ’hungry for money’ voters. During the Opinion Poll campaign at Calangute, Dr. Jack De Sequeira once said “If MGP offers you money, accept it but while voting do not vote for Flower Symbol but vote for Two Leaves”. Further Sequeira said it is not a sin to accept money but those who give money as bribe is a sinner. Nobody can buy your votes and nobody can sell his votes. It is not a commodity. To get voting rights our fathers and forefathers gave their blood and life and suffered so much in life. Let us not make it cheap and a purchasable commodity. If anybody gives money let us accept it gracefully but while voting we shall use our own discretion and vote according to our conscience.
Within 3 days Goan voters will elect two Goans to be the Maharajas of Goa. Once elected they will act like Maharajas with all the amenities and facilities of Mahrarajas.. So much so, with these facilities they will think they are in heaven and with this feeling they will forget all others as they have done in the past. In view of this, is it right to elect such people? If not, what is the solution to avoid this Maharaja type of status for our candidates? Is there any choice in our hands? Are we heading in right direction? MLA’s, MP’s and Montris is a new class of Maharajas in India and everybody is joining in this race. And unfortunately it is become hereditary starting from father to son and from there to down the level. Something has to be devised at All India level to change this system. But meantime let us accept the fact that whoever get elected will never create any impact of themselves and of Goa in parliament because none of the contestants are intellectual giants. Thye are all meant to think and discuss domestic issues where their personal interest are centred. BJP men will surely be faithful to communalism of Modi brand, Mathany still not committing that he will not join BJP segment if elected and fom “DHIRIO” candidate what best you can expect for Goa and Goans?
But meantime, let us vote judiciously and when money is offered, let us accept it saying “YES TO MONEY BUT NO TO VOTES”.
A. Veronica Fernandes.
