Unless the political volcano erupts earlier, the next Goa Assembly elections are over three years away. It’s a long period during which anything can happen in Politics. Today, in this game of political chess there are no permanent friends or foes with nothing ever being impossible.
It is too premature to predict whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will have an impact in the State of Goa. A lot will depend on how the party takes shape and performs in its now maiden seat of power in Delhi. Politicians are known to promise the moon but miserably failing to deliver. Will AAP be different? Mesmerising people by making tall promises may be a piece of cake, but sincerely fulfilling those commitments is all together another ball game. In Goa we have witnessed over the last 21 months the current BJP government after having raced to power with a wave of promises now leaving all those who had voted for that Parivartan in a state of utter dismay. One also recollects that 1977 phenomena where the then Janata Party rode to power in the Lok Sabha elections decimating the then Congress Party led by Indira Gandhi with Raj Narain becoming the king maker. That experiment soon miserably faulted, fumbled and failed. The political chaos and turmoil that followed is all part of history. In an era of coalitions and conglomerations, change is inevitable and is required on the political spectrum. The people of Goa were disgusted with the Congress and are now sorely disappointed with the BJP. They would definitely look and yearn for an alternative. Whether a vibrant regional outfit will take roots or whether the Aam Aadmi party will fill the void will have to be seen. However, the redeeming factor of AAP appears to be its high value as a credible opposition even while in power because of the wide spread disgust with the Congress as well as the BJP. In Goa the AAP could combine the purely Goan regional votes with those of the migrants. Goa has been known for its fertile political soil and a proven laboratory for political experiments. In circumventing the Anti-defection law, Goa has shown India the way. Will AAP take off in Goa? Will that broom sweep the horrendous political dirt that this State is enveloped in. Only time will tell. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
