What next, Guv?

L.K. Advani called the Goa governor8217;s dismissal of the Parrikar government a murder of democracy. The Congress in turn called the way i...

L.K. Advani called the Goa governor8217;s dismissal of the Parrikar government a murder of democracy. The Congress in turn called the way in which the speaker conducted proceedings during the vote on the confidence motion a murder of democracy. For once, both parties may be right. And both speak from experience. Goa has a long history of political parties subverting the democratic mandate, by subjecting politics to sordid horse trading. But the even by the standards of Goa8217;s recent history, the train of events that ensued since the Parrikar government8217;s majority was put in doubt calls into question the democratic credentials of all parties. Part of the pattern we witnessed is familiar. Legislators constantly bargain with different parties and even hold governments to ransom. Parties attempt to break off factions from each other. MLAs are then paraded before the governor. The only way out of this conundrum is to have a clear test of the strength of the government on the floor of the House. But Goa8217;s institutions have sunk to such astonishing depths that even a simple test of who has majority cannot be conducted without controversy.

There was a murky absurdity to proceedings. It was not clear to which party some legislators belonged; obscure rules were invoked to disqualify MLAs and the final vote count registered had little plausibility. Then the governor compounded matters, by dismissing the government and installing a new one. Even if he had reasons to doubt the integrity of the confidence motion, he could have called for another vote. Or he could have taken time to consider all options, including fresh elections. And he should have given the appearance of at least ascertaining all the facts. But the haste with which the government was dismissed and a new one installed gives the impression that the governor8217;s office does not carry the imprimatur of impartiality.

Some of Goa8217;s political problems stem from its peculiar characteristics. It has a small assembly. And close election outcomes mean one or two votes are all that stand between a party and power. So the state has an unusual record in the breaking of governments. The Congress has had a rather dishonorable history in this regard, and the BJP has taken on some of its hues. In such a situation, constitutional offices like those of the governor and the speaker become even more crucial to sustaining transparency and democracy. In this case, sadly, both have let the citizens of Goa down. Goa represents a breakdown not only of democracy, but also of institutional propriety.