Aamchey Goem, aamka jaay!

Political tourism in Goa is at its peak. The much-awaited Goa Assembly Election 2027 is round the corner. It is just a matter of months before the Day of the Judgement is here. 

Will the incumbent Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant Ji script history by leading his party to a third consecutive win? This million-dollar question is on everybody's lips. But, a straightforward answer is hiding from plain sight.

The political pundits are watching the developments in the state with caution, whereas the punters seem unwilling to put their money where their mouth is. Nothing appears to be what it is. Nobody wants to stick their neck out under the prevailing scenarios full of suspense and intrigue.

The Election Commission of India has been busy with the controversial Special Intensive Revision aka SIR. The opposition parties – led by the Gandhi scion Shri Rahul Ji – are alleging malpractices in the ongoing SIR exercise with the eligible voters finding their names having gone missing from the electoral rolls – that too after proving that they are legitimate citizens of India.

Shri Arvind Ji of the Aam Aadmi Party and Shri Vijai Bab of the Goa Forward Party cannot stop grinning while basking in the afterglow of their pre-poll alliance forged to take on the Goa BJP juggernaut that seems to be deriving vicarious pleasure at seeing the condition of the opposition parties trying to put up a semblance of a fight to save democracy.

The grand old party aka Goa Congress under Shri Girish Bab has received a fresh lease of life. The Goy Rakhonn Yatra – modelled after Shri Rahul Ji’s successful Bharat Jodo Yatra – is galvanising the grassroots workers of Goa Congress with Shri Girish Bab taking the fight to the enemy camp.

But, the leaders from the divided opposition cannot be trusted to hold their tongue firmly inside their cheeks after seeing this positive response to the Goy Rakhonn Yatra. Encouraged by their ‘friends’ from the ruling party, they might poke fun at Shri Girish Bab’s leadership credentials (or lack thereof) for losing his elected MLAs to the Goa BJP after the assembly election 2027 are done and dusted with.

Let us pray for calm tempers to prevail in this age of super El Nino that is creating havoc with climate across the globe with the Indian monsoon performing below average making the threat of the scarcity of water loom large on the horizon.

The future does not seem bright at all. So, what should we – hapless bareek munises – do? Wait and watch! The EC should take a break from the resources heavy and time-consuming SIR exercise and take a serious look at the calendar to decide when India’s smallest state should go to the polls to elect a new government or maintain status quo.

Once a date is set, all hell is likely to break loose. Who can forget February 14, 2022? It was on this historic day that our Goem went to the polls. St Valentine's Day was in full bloom when the ballots were being cast. There were three high profile couples fighting elections. The Rane couple was confident of easy wins. The Monserrate couple had no opposition at all. The Lobo couple was the show-stealer with the ex-minister Mr Lobo Bab having revolted against his party after failing to secure a ticket for his missus who was a popular sarpanch back then.

With the three high profile couples in the electoral fray, the EC had played a masterstroke by holding the election on Valentine's Day 2022.

Ever since, how much water has flown under the bridge of the Mandovi river. Cut to 2026, the Monserrate couple is broken with MLA Smt Jennifer Ma'am having succumbed to an ailment at the peak of her political career (May God rest her soul in peace. Amen). 

The Lobo couple (after getting elected on the Congress tickets made a controversial comeback aka ghar wapsi to the Goa BJP) has been maintaining a low profile. Will they get tickets in 2027?

The Rane couple is leaving no stone unturned to stay in the limelight in the months leading upto Goa Assembly Election 2027. Shri Vishwajit Bab makes regular trips to New Delhi to create more visibility. His PR works overtime to create social media posts with flowery language whenever Shri Vishwajit Bab gets his pics clicked with his Delhi bosses with bouquets in hand and their eyes full of boredom with face trying to suppress yawns.

As the assembly election draws closer, pics with captions like ‘Inspiration’, ‘Way forward’, ‘Goa’s development’ and ‘Useful tips’ will be deployed with generosity never seen before with our leaders sitting politely with their head bowed down before their so-called political mentors.

Then, there is a very interesting tribe of regional satraps who switch parties just before the elections. Their well-written lines are always delivered with deadpan expressions and with an Oscar-worthy performance, “My people want me to be in this party now. I have joined this party to carry forward and realise the dream of so and so leader – whom I grew up worshipping – by 2047. Support me. I never fight elections for power and position. I am a humble servant of my people. I am happy serving my people. Even if I do not get a ticket to contest the elections, I will continue to work for my people.”

The same old wine in a new bottle every time there are elections. That's the story of our beloved Goa. Protagonists change. However, the lines remain the same. Be that as it may, Aamchey Goem Aamka Jaay.

This writer is a sales professional from the healthcare industry. When he is not chasing deals, he is pushing his pen to write about current affairs.