Congress is not contesting ZP elections There has been no mass agitation by the Congress about this autocratic move. The electorate is also not conscienctise about this unilateral move; Congress is a divided house at the moment and are not in a position to take on BJP. On the other hand they are saving themselves of the ignonimity of another disastrous impending defeat and hence non participation in ZP elections is a face saving device . BJP is posing a challenge to Congress to retrieve its sagging image ,Congress is in total disarray with open infighting and authorities merely threatening action, The divisions’ in Congress will be in the open much to the discomfiture of the leadership. It is non committal strategy to indirectly back independents with finance and whisper campaign and if they win, then claim success. In the past too many a winners express allegiance to parties publicly in the presence of party leaders. Those who do not tow the party line are induced by various means to be on the right side, Constant shifting of allegiance of electors at grass root level and frequent change of guards at the top are indications that parties have played this game of defections ad nausea um .This explains instability in local bodies .The ZP members are complaining about non devolution of powers and funds to attend to their plans. The MLA`s are fearing loss of their self importance and place of eminence in public, Why then have these bodies at all entitled by Constitutional amendment. Politicians do not want ZP members to encroach in their fiefdom and hence make this amendment irrelevant by denying administrative and financial freedom and Zilla Parishad is reduced to ornamental appendage of political entity
A mild reaction by Congress by non participation in ZP election is running away from reality. There was no debate about this sudden move and invite opinions. The Congress has meekly surrendered to BJP unilateralism. On the contrary other political parties have stitched an alliance to participate in forth coming election, leaving Congress completely isolated Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
