Published On : Thu, Mar 16th, 2017

With a dash of humour – that is how are Goans viewing their new Government formation?

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New Delhi:
While the national media, even NDTV, is viewing Congress party as the ‘laughing stock’ for losing their chance of forming a government in Goa despite bagging 17 seats and being just 4 short of majority, the people of Goa are having a field day poking fun at their ‘old-come-new’ CM Parrikar!

‘Goa Speaks’ fb page is full of jokes about the scenario.

They tend to view Parrikar as a ‘loser’ who allowed himself to be demoted from the position of Defense Minister of the country to being CM of a small state again.

“The absent-every-weekend from Delhi Defense Minister is back in Goa, which he never really left” says one Goan.

“What a joker He gives up a plum cabinet post in Delhi and comes back to Goa. Clearly he didn’t get to live a laid back life there!” says another.

Parrikar himself has confessed immediately after winning the vote of confidence that ” I was a little at uncomfirt in Delhi. The weather… and then the food, I really missed the Goan food.” (Clearly this is a man about whom you can say – the way to his heart is through his stomach!)

This is the one post that really hits the nail on its head –

Not all Governments are formed with EVM, some are formed with ATM!Gavi Coutinho.

Another hilarious post says – “next we will have Congress getting maximum seats in Gujarat and we will see Modi going back to Gujarat as CM!”

Is Mridula Sinha Goa Governor, or a BJP Central Minister, ask Goans?


Certain acts of the Goa Governor Mridula Sinha over the last 4 days, have promoted several people in Goa to ask this question above.

With questions being raised on social media on the dubious role of the Governor and the blatant misuse of the office of the Governor, IndiaNewsNet.IN conducted a quick telephonic poll in Goa and spoke to a rough sample of about 300 people – both from North and South Goa to ascertain the mood of the people.

Most people we spoke to opined that the Goa Governor Mridula Sinha was not acting and behaving like an independent State Governor, but was rather behaving like a Central BJP Minister.

“The people of Goa have completely lost faith in the Governor and the Governor’s office. It is common sense. Why was the Governor in such a tearing hurry to anoint Parrikar the CM of Goa and that too on Sunday late night. As per the sequence of events, Parrikar along with Vijai Sardesai of the GFP and MGP leaders sought an audience with the Governor at around 7.30 or 8 pm on Sunday, which was immediately granted. In contrast to this, when the Congress south an appointment with the Governor on Tuesday morning, she refused to meet them and only granted them an audience on Tuesday late afternoon.

After Parrikar submitted the letters of support from the GFP and the MGP, the Governor was immediately pleased to invite him to form the government and also anointed him the Chief Minister late evening on Sunday. It all seems as the Governor was briefed earlier and was only waiting for Parrikar and gang to troop in with his letters of support. As a matter of protocol, the letter for the GFP should have been signed by the party president, along with individual letters from the elected candidates – in this case the party president had resigned an hour before Sardesai landed at the Governor’s office and he did not have the letter signed by the party president. There were several other lacunae when the group met the Governor on Sunday late evening, and the Governor, if she so desired was well within her rights to stall the anointing of Parrikar to the next morning.

However, to the chagrin of the Congress, Sinha accepted all the letters and anointed Parrikar the CM, giving him 15 days to prove his majority on the floor of the house.

The Governor’s letter appointing Parrikar the CM was ready and handed over in a record time of 15 minutes – a record in India for promptness and efficiency. To the common man, it seems the letter was prepared in advance and the Governor’s office had only to print it out. ”

The ‘turn coat’ Sardesai gets a whip lashing too.

Joshua writes rather passionately –

“Vijay said that he’s not dealing with BJP but with Manohar Parrikar. Is Goa forward’s alliance with BJP or Parrikar? Whom is he trying to fool now?

It’s clear from this interview that the step that Vijay has taken of forming alliance with BJP is only to take revenge from Congress who he claims back stabbed him and took him for granted. But Vijay, you cannot play with the emotions of Goans and your voters for your personal benefit. If Congress has back stabbed you and you back stabbed Goans, what’s the difference between you and Congress? You’re an extension of their DNA. Goa forward defeated the candidates of BJP and joined hands with them. This is as good as Goa forward candidates contesting on BJP ticket.

Congress is not the B team of BJP but Goa forward is the B team of BJP. I dare Vijay and Goa forward candidates to contest in Goa again and you’ll lose worse than AAP Goa. It’s an open challenge.

Don’t justify your personal decision by using Goa as an excuse and saying that you have done it for the state.”

Says another -Vijay said that he’s not power hungry and he is happy even if he doesn’t get any ministry. This was perhaps the funniest part of the interview. I laughed so hard.

Chance was already given to BJP 5 years back and Goa forward was formed to defeat BJP. Then how did it end up going with the BJP? This needs to be thought deeply. If it’s all about a chance, then Vijay should have given a chance to Congress and joint hands with them since people have preferred them and seen whether they could do better than what BJP has done in the last 5 years. But he didn’t do so. He went on to support BJP without even talking to this voters and seeking their consent.

Congress has seen many comments from disillusioned voters too.

Did we waste our vote by voting for this party which could not even get its act together after ‘winning’ they feel.

All in all, Goans are in a strange mood today. There is no jubilation of a ‘new government coming to power’.

Only a sense of ‘History repeats itself’ because this game of ‘MLA shopping’ and power by manipulation has been played in Goa before too.