On 6 July 2010 17:47, anil desai <[email protected]> wrote: > What a magnificient article by a hugely succeful goan politician. I think it > was Miguel who informed us that the last time Floriano Lobo contested > assembly elections, he got around 217 votes. It is therefore not surprising, > is it, that BJP will approach this megalomaniac to get back to power.
This raises a very important point! Let us not pretend that the one-and-two votes don't add up and make a difference in an election result. Because of the conservative, communally-divided nature of Goan politics (this has been the case since 1963, and before, in other ways since one-man-one-vote elections weren't around then). many constituencies are marginal, and the difference in votes between winner and runner-up could be a few hundred in number. (In one election, somewhere in the late 1980s or early 1990s), there were ten seats won on 800 votes or less, if I recall right. The BJP's electoral strategy as of now seems to be: if you can't win, make sure the Congress loses. Every small anti-Congress group can be effectively utilised, specially in a marginal seat. A strategically-supported Babush Monserrate can change the situation in taking on a seemingly undefeatable Somnath Zuwarkar in Taleigao (never mind that Babush proved worse than the illness, and was subsequently conveniently disowned). A Mickky can upset the Alemao applecart, and a John (now accused in the Russian rape case) can come pretty close. Likewise, a Matanhy -- who was struggling to win Cortalim on his own for decades, despite his earlier good record -- can do wonders and pull down a seemingly entrenched if controversial Mauvin Godinho. The list can go on and on... Francis D'Souza, despite have no apparent winnable base and jumping the entire political spectrum in Mapusa (Goa Congress, Independent, Congress, BJP) has shown how the right support base in Goa can make a undistinguished candidate win and win and win! At the end of the day, the BJP-versus-Congress dichotomy which some are attempting to build up, on Goanet and elsewhere, is quite a fake. What is the difference between these two parties, in ideology, politics, approach towards communalism, and support base? Whoever wins, the same set of dubious players are on the top. The Goan voter has a choice in political terms -- any shade will do, as long as it's black! Even Manohar Parrikar, the hero of some of a handful of the most loquacious campaigners on Goanet, goes on to dub campaigners against mining as Naxalites. So much for Goa's Opposition! About the ruling party, we have at least long ceased to expect better. FN
