Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The month of Shravan is considered holy as a majority of Hindu families are vegetarian during the festive month up to the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
That is one of the reasons why the supporters seem to be less behind the candidates canvassing in almost all 186 village panchayats, which go to polls on August 10.
Contesting candidates and their supporters have to a large extent, resorted to foul practices to get voters to cast their votes in their favour during the panchayat elections.
While there is not much distribution of cash during panchayat elections, there is a free flow of parties for supporters. But this time, it has been just samosas, potato wadas and soft drinks/ juices.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
The delayed panchayat polls have certainly taken the “spirit” out of panchayat polls this year.
During elections generally in Goa, it is more of chicken and beer parties for supporters after everyday campaigning. Not to the scale of what happens during Assembly polls, but nonetheless, the parties do happen to keep the supporter’s flock intact.
However, this year the panchayat election has not been a great one for the supporters as it comes during the Holy month of Shravan when the majority of Hindu community men do not drink liquor or eat non-vegetarian.
The month of Shravan is considered holy as a majority of Hindu families are vegetarian during the festive month up to the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
That is one of the reasons why the supporters seem to be less behind the candidates canvassing in almost all 186 village panchayats, which go to polls on August 10.
Contesting candidates and their supporters have to a large extent, resorted to foul practices to get voters to cast their votes in their favour during the panchayat elections.
While there is not much distribution of cash during panchayat elections, there is a free flow of parties for supporters. But this time, it has been just samosas, potato wadas and soft drinks/ juices.
Not just the Shravan month, the police crackdown on drunken driving after the Zuari bridge accident has been another “spirit” dampner for the supporters.
Four Loutolim locals died following an accident on the Zuari bridge, wherein the car hit the railings and plunged into the river.
The debate on drunk driving started since that day as videos of the birthday party of the four went viral.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant squarely blamed the drunken driving and overspeeding for the accident.
After the people and political parties blamed the Chief Minister and the government for the accident, the government seemed to have taken the issue very seriously and started a crackdown on drunk driving and overspeeding.
Now, with most parties in panchayat polls laced with liquor, the supporters are in a quandary about whether to drink or not, sources reveal.
“If we do drink and get caught by the police. We have to pay a straight fine of Rs 10,000 that is just too much,” they say.
In a way, this is great for Goa’s democracy as there isn’t much liquor and chicken in the elections for the first time in decades.
Going by this example, the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commissioner can decide to hold every election in the month of Shravan so that there is no free flow of booze and chicken to lure the voters, and the candidates would get elected based on their performance and honesty.
Perhaps, the delayed panchayat elections in Goa may have been blessings in disguise for Goa’s grassroots politics, which has been corrupted to the core. Also, this is an opportunity for the Goan rural areas to vote for candidates of their choice rather than keep lamenting for the next five years.
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