AERIAL VIEW
Goa has seen the maximum number of agitation in the last five years, not for personal interest but to retain its identity, protect its environment, and save Goa for posterity.
But the politicians have taken this wrong and felt they could make Hay while the Sun Shines. They thought they could make quick money by switching parties and quickly getting away with it. They felt that the people were so agitated with the BJP and the Congress that they wanted a new party, and their plans would go unnoticed.
Agreed, the people of Goa are agitated with BJP and Congress, but they did not give licence to any politicians to take advantage of the situation.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
In the last two months, Goa has seen politicians one after another join the West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The joining spree was started by former Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro, who joined TMC and other Congress leaders. Later, we understood that the deal was to nominate him to the Rajya Sabha.
Then came the big MGP alliance. The two parties’ ideologies do not match, but finally, the Vitamin M factor played a big role, and the contract marriage was inked.
Former Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, an issue-based supporter of BJP, followed suit and joined TMC and his daughter Valanka.
The shocking one was Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, who bargained hard with Congress for a good position only to ditch the party and join TMC.
It is no secret that the only common factor in all the above unions is Vitamin M.
However, while the TMC has successfully poached the MLAs, they fail to understand that the politicians in Goa are up for sale, but Goans are not.
Goa has seen the maximum number of agitation in the last five years, not for personal interest but to retain its identity, protect its environment, and save Goa for posterity.
But the politicians have taken this wrong and felt they could make Hay while the Sun Shines. They thought they could make quick money by switching parties and quickly getting away with it. They felt that the people were so agitated with the BJP and the Congress that they wanted a new party, and their plans would go unnoticed.
Agreed, the people of Goa are agitated with BJP and Congress, but they did not give licence to any politicians to take advantage of the situation.
People of Goa want a corruption-free government, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
But what we witness today is Horse-trading, “whoever gives more money, I will be theirs” actually, it is a kind of auction. Aleixo Reginald Lourenco case is a perfect example. He bargained hard with Congress and got the position and, in the meanwhile, was also in talks with Aam Aadmi Party and then suddenly jumped to TMC.
Actually, he was three-timing the Congress, AAP and TMC.
What AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said is absolutely right, “if posters and buying MLAs could win elections,” only crorepatis would win.
Many parties are involved in the horse-trading of MLAs, including the BJP and Congress. However, the difference is the people know the BJP, Congress and AAP have been in Goa for years. They did not leave Goa after losing.
AAP has been here in Goa for six years; even after losing elections miserably in 2017, they stayed back for those who voted for them.
This was not the case with Didi’s TMC. TMC fought elections in Goa in 2007 and 2014 but never saw behind and dumped their voters after losing.
Instead, what TMC has done just two months before the election; they appear from nowhere and start poaching sitting MLAs.
Also, in a bid to “woo” Goan voters, they announced a yearly Rs 60k package for Griha Aadhar Scheme. This, too, is indirect bribing. Isn’t it?
However, the TMC theatrics would not work with Goa and Goans. They must first tell Goans whether they have implemented such schemes in Bengal? Do they have schemes DDSSY, DSSS, Ladli Laxmi?
If not, the TMC is free to keep on buying the politicians. Goans will show them their place in the forthcoming elections.