The political carnival in Goa continues. It appears that the Ministers chambers in the new Assembly building at Penha de France/Porvorim are located in the Speaker's domain. The new CM has not yet subscribed to the Speaker's d-list. Just like Taiwan/Taipei was China to USA till the Nixon era, so is Parrikar to Satarkar.[ now affectionately known as " Sathra-Atra-kar" meaning 'make 17 into 18' in connection with the numbers game on 02 Feb. wherein Sudhin Dhavlikar was counted in the BJP camp for the vote of confidence.] It is a Madhuri Dixit type of count in "Ek,do teen....gyara bhara."
Like the good families of the 1950s and 1960s, Rane has stopped his Ministerial family at the count of eight. A gold medal was earlier available to parents who produced more than 12 children. Now it is the limit one dare not cross in Goa's House.
In the meanwhile, Raya Shankhwalker and Fatima Gracias need to take a "commercial break" in 'Kahani Ghar Ghar ki". The Inn is full at Penha de France[ the chambers have not been vacated by the previous residents who have filed to be declared Mundkars and thereby gain protection against eviction.] and Rane has to return to the Fortalesa de Idalcao which became the Palacio de Idalcao or Adilshah's Palace after Conde de Ega rebuilt it. It is now Rane's turn to refurbish the structure and take a seat in the edifice of power against which his grandfather fought. History is full of ironies. This is just one of them.
The consensus on Rajdeep Sardessai's programme on NDTV tonight was that the electorate[ that's you and me, silly ;-( ] must refuse to re-elect "Defectors" if it wants the politicians to come to heel [instead of being such heels]. Right now the arithmetic is against us. 90% of the voters in "fukat nagars" [created as fixed deposits in the vote bank] who comprise about 30% of the electorate in any constituency ACTUALLY GO OUT AND VOTE on the polling day. 90% of 30% is 27% of the votes. In a situation where the polling percentage is 54%, this is half of all the votes polled. If there are 3 candidates and the 3rd candidate polls 5% of the vote, that 5% vote becomes the WINNING MARGIN! It is the low turn out [of 35 to 40% contributing the other 27% vote] from among the literate[ but uneducated about their duties in a democracy] local populace that makes it possible for the unscruplous politicians to win. This system is followed in Zilla Panchayats[ that will go to polls on 13 March], Village Panchayats, Communidades and even in NGOs. A dedicated vote bank ensures victory under any label. Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza [2 Congress versions and later BJP], Rane [MGP and then Congress], Digambar Kamat[ Congress and then BJP], Isidore[ Independent, then Congress, then BJP and now possibly Congress again] are just some examples.
In the meanwhile Margaret Alva came to Goa to make Rane and his men to
rehearse the delicate steps of governance before the King Momo parade. The
paps of power have run dry. Congress legislaters were given pacifiers for
the time being. Like good children, they were gurgling and grinning at Cidade de Goa. It would be difficult to imagine that these kids had been throwing a tantrum the night before. Like the 3-month colic in new born kids, perhaps it starts by dusk and aggravates by nightfall. There is no known cure, but CMM's Colimax relieves the trauma. I wonder what Alva administered to these spoilt brats at Cidade de Goa. They are behaving like angels.
Jivak boro, vokta tembo !!
Viva Goa.
Miguel
