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VOTE FOR WHATEVER AFFECTS YOU MOST ELVIDIO MIRANDA A plethora of issues will dominate and take centre stage this Assembly elections to be held on 4th February, 2017 and a wide array of parties are in the fray from which to choose from. >From the social security schemes, such as Griha Aadhar, Ladli Laxmi, (the AAP having bested these schemes with better offers and even floated a new Rs. 5000/- dole to the unemployed youth), to the price of petrol which has been kept below Rs. 60/- to the litre, the Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue, which affects almost all the Goans, take sides with the FORCE or the BBSM. The adherence and allegiance to leadership which will pit BJP leaders against the GSM, MGP, GPP and SS, which alliance is bound to wean away a significant portion of the BJP support . The other parties are: the Goa Forward Party, Congress, GVP, UGDP, UGP, Goa Su-Raj party, and independents. The mining dependent issue also encompasses more than a lakh people. The Aam Aadmi Party's early choosing of candidates as early as 13th September, 2016 have them in better battle readiness and are reinforced by the 40 constituency-wise manifestos. The Dabolim issue is very pertinent to the South, the leanings of the Goa Taxi Owners, reaction to the formulation of the new Regional Plan, the leanings of the smaller stakeholders such as the Goemcho Ramponkarancho Ekvot, seafarers association, the fallout of the Mopa airport, Golf course at Tiracol, justice to Fr. Bismarque Dias, opposition to the Investment Promotion Board in utter disregard to the environmental norms, the issue of Vani Agro Ltd., Vanxim Ozone project, casino issue, garbage collection and disposal, the condition of roads other than the highways, the power of the women factor with various issues facing them which form half the electorate, the bad treatment meted out to the common men and women by the demonetisation of high value notes, the astronomical hike in the stamp paper duties from Rs. 20/- to Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1000/- for Leave and Licence Agreements for residential and commercial purposes, the reaction to the U-turns and the promises not kept, even a call on Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund if accepted by a party for implementation are a few of the issues. Major, not so large and smaller issues and affiliations of those affected as well as individual choices will have a major impact in deciding the verdict which is now in the people's court, where the enfranchised electorate is the master of all they purvey before the elections and each of whom should decide without fear or favour their choice so as not to regret later. It has been noticed that powerful and influential candidates in the past tend to ignore popular sentiment after being elected, so why not repose confidence and vote for those who will be amenable and will not renege on promises be it a party or individuals. Like the popular maxim goes `those who are humble should be exalted and those who exalt themselves should be humbled'. From the parties and their leaders to the organized associations and mandals, to those spurned, those taken for a ride, to the individual grievances, these elections should be a revolutionary one, not seen anytime before. No candidate can be slighted or derided or taken for granted or underestimated. All will get only whom they have voted for in greater numbers. Let it be the candidate with the greatest net karma. Let your political mantra be: 'Don't sweep it under the carpet, but keep it clean from the inside'.
