Master manipulators

Politicians in Goa have proved themselves as much master manipulators of democratic procedure as their counterparts in the rest of the co...

Politicians in Goa have proved themselves as much master manipulators of democratic procedure as their counterparts in the rest of the country. As for which among them occupies the top slot this year, it8217;s a toss up between a partisan Speaker, Tomazinho Cardozo, and an opportunistic new chief minister, Wilfred D8217;Souza.

As presiding officer of the House who twisted the rules to allow former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane to win his vote of confidence, Cardozo seems to have the superior claim. He is not the first Speaker to misuse his powers under the anti-defection law to bring about a particular outcome during a crucial vote. On several occasions speakers of other Assemblies have used dubious methods to help an incumbent chief minister stay in power or hasten his or her downfall.

The Gujarat and UP legislatures provide some of the worst examples. However, bad precedents do not justify Cardozo8217;s decision to ignore the claims of 10 Congress MPs who formed a separate group. It was patently partisan and anabuse of his position to suspend those MLAs minutes before the vote.

Those who are demanding Governor J F R Jacob8217;s recall are not paying sufficient attention to democratic propriety. Kapil Sibal, for one, is prepared to gloss over the stage-managed proceedings in the House and accept Rane8217;s manipulated victory as above board. He at least should know where to draw the line between the Speaker8217;s powers and the rights of legislators under the prevailing law. Whether Jacob overstepped his limits by dismissing a chief minister who had apparently won the confidence of the House may eventually be taken to court because of the political colour being given to the whole affair.

But the issue is not the Governor and the technicality of the elapse of time between the vote and the dismissal. Nor is it relevant whether Rane got sufficient time to prove his majority. The real problem lies with the Speaker who exceeded his authority and in doing so created a constitutional crisis the Governor was then compelled toresolve.

The political sea-change in Goa is quite remarkable. A government of a Congress faction christened the Rajiv Congress, BJP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party brings all the conflicting political trends in the state under one roof. In his time, the veteran Wilfred D8217;Souza has been capable of many things in the furtherance of his career but rarely of compromises of this dimension.

On the face of it, there is no common purpose in this new united front nor is there evidence of the outbreak of a new all-embracing philosophy. It is sheer expedience on all sides. Even though politics has brought together stranger bedfellows than the CRC, BJP and MGP, no miracles can be expected.

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At any rate, the next few weeks will show whether power is in fact a strong enough bond. Optimists would hope for new and better ideas for running the government. The pessimistic view would be, if this arrangement survives the vote of confidence in three weeks8217; time, it can only be a transition of uncertain duration beforethe state has to go to the polls again.