AERIAL VIEW
It has become a habit for elected representatives to shift loyalty for personal gains in recent times.
Moreover, these politicians shed crocodile tears after crossing over accusing their parent party of practicing nepotism.
Ideologies and principles of democracy have taken the back seat in a rush to attain power. Greediness in politics is increasing, and this has turned MLAs party hoppers.
Since the Statehood, the anathema of defections has been a prominent feature of Goan political discourse, like in many other States. Rampant instances of defections across parties became a modus operandi of Goan politics resulting in incessant dislodging of democratically elected governments by rival parties through orchestrated defection.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Political defections are one of the most ubiquitous phenomena of democratic politics in Goa. There have been recent instances of defections in the poll-bound state of Goa from the Congress to the BJP and vice-versa.
These notable defections have once again brought the issue of political defections to the forefront.
Political defections, which denotes a change of political loyalty of a party legislator or group of legislators who switches over to another party in the inter-election years, have a formidable bearing on the nature of the party system and electoral representation in a democracy.
It has become a habit for elected representatives to shift loyalty for personal gains in recent times.
Moreover, these politicians shed crocodile tears after crossing over accusing their parent party of practicing nepotism.
Ideologies and principles of democracy have taken the back seat in a rush to attain power. Greediness in politics is increasing, and this has turned MLAs party hoppers.
Since the Statehood, the anathema of defections has been a prominent feature of Goan political discourse, like in many other States. Rampant instances of defections across parties became a modus operandi of Goan politics resulting in incessant dislodging of democratically elected governments by rival parties through orchestrated defection.
Now what is happening in Goa today is not defections as the elections have already been announced, and it is the prerogative of the sitting MLA or politician to decide which party they want to contest as anyways they will go to the electorate again to seek their mandate.
In the last two months, at least eight MLAs have resigned as MLAs and joined the rival parties, hoping for another successive term with the people’s blessings.
While anti-defection law cannot come into force as elections are not announced, the Election Commission and the judiciary have to play a proactive role.
They have to see whether money has played any role in the fag-end defections, as is being alleged by the political parties.
It is alleged that a political party with their high-profile political strategist is camping in Goa with truck-loads of money and ready to buy anything and everything they feel can win the elections.
While they find it difficult to purchase in the highly literate state, the leaders and MLAs easily purchasable commodities.
However, what is shocking is that when the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department are active around the year, what stops them from raids during the election time? Why do they go missing only during elections?
Why can’t they see a North Goa politician buying a luxury car worth crores within a few days after joining that political party that has grown a “money plant” in Goa?
It is no secret that all political parties are hand in gloves, and despite being rivals, they help each other in such cases because they know very well, “if we trouble them here, they will trouble us in their State.”
Sensible voters should not fall prey to their political gimmicks but teach them a bitter lesson by defeating them in the polls.
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