- Goa Unit of AAP and Congress are fearful of their members leaving the party.
- They have made them take loyalty pledges and sign affidavits regarding the same.
- This is coercion and these stunts rarely work since for the general public, its a sign of weakness.
The fundamental idea behind democracy is free choice. But, Congress and AAP do not seem to believe in it. To keep their parties intact, they are asking their party members to take strange pledges.
AAP and Congress barely holding on to their members
With few days left for Goa assembly elections, AAP and Congress are still fearing that their members will defect to other parties. On his four day visit to Goa, Arvind Kejriwal made his party members to take an oath of loyalty and sign affidavit in this regard.
Kejriwal’s loyalty pledge
All 39 candidates signed this affidavit in the presence of the AAP Supremo, Arvind Kejriwal. Additionally, the affidavit also says that these leaders would not indulge in corruption. If AAP is to be believed then these are legal affidavits and will be distributed to voters. If any candidate refrains from following this affidavit in letter and spirit, then he/she can be sued by the average voter.
PC: Goamantak Times
According to Kejriwal, defection is the biggest problem in Goa politics.” The biggest problem with Goa’s politics is the frequent defections. We want to weed it out even before people vote for our candidates”, said Kejriwal.
Commenting on the no corruption clause in affidavit, Kejriwal said, “All of our candidates are honest but this affidavit is needed to assure voters that these candidates are honest”
Congress follows suit
Congress has resorted to the same tactics as followed by Arvind Kejriwal and his party. Rahul Gandhi himself made his party members take loyalty pledges. Congress members signed an affidavit vowing not to defect.
A key difference between AAP’s affidavit and Congress affidavit is that Congress’ affidavit did not contain a prohibition from corruption clause. 3 members of Congress’ coalition partner Goa Forward Party (GFP) also followed their Congressi counterparts.
PC: Indian Express
Affidavit is binding in nature
The affidavit binds these members against defecting to any party during five-year terms of them holding MLA post (assuming that they win). “We will never support or participate in any activity that will sell Goa’s identity. We pledge to be united, we pledge to be loyal,” said the affidavit. The affidavit was handed over to Rahul Gandhi which will be further passed on to Sonia Gandhi, the party president.
Read more: As Punjab hogs all limelight, Congress fizzles out in Goa
Members welcome it while BJP mocks it
In a statement to Times of India, Michael Lobo, a Congress candidate from Calangute said, “It sends a message that Congress is serious about forming the next government. People are upset with former Congressmen who left the party after getting elected on the party symbol. They left because there were five aspirants for the CM’s post, which amounted to delays in making a decision and ultimately losing an opportunity to form the government,”
Meanwhile, Pramod Sawant, the Goa chief minister has said that members taking pledges of loyalty is just a start. They will have to prove it again and again in future. “Such candidates will have to prove their loyalty time and again that they are loyal to the Congress party,” said Sawant
Reason behind loyalty clauses
Kejriwal’s fear stems from the fact that AAP’s own Goa Unit is largely composed of defectors. AAP’s metropolitan style of campaigning has resulted in increased support for them among Goans. However, a lack of credible regional face is affecting its chances. To counter this, AAP has resorted to hiring dissatisfied candidates from already established political parties.
Read more: “Hum Rajneeti badalne aaye hain” Indeed!, AAP’s lovely list of crime tainted Candidates
Congress is the party which has witnessed biggest exodus from its ranks in last few years. In 2017, Congress had won 17 out of 40 seats on offer. However, the party’s uncertain leadership resulted in no other party or MLA joining Congress for a coalition government. All of them flocked to BJP. Within 5 years, Congress is reduced to having 2 electorally capable members in its Goa Unit.
Read more: Why BJP will win Goa, but AAP will replace Congress as the opposition
Enforcing loyalty never works
On one hand Goa politics is infamous for political defectors, while on other hand, Goans are known for voting for those who do not coerce him/herself onto people of the state. Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is a prime example. Goans flocked to vote for him, just because he was loyal, hardworking and thought for Goans before his own political gains. Read how he spent his life serving Goans.
Read more: Manohar Parrikar – The man who served Goa till his last breath
Everything in a democracy is voluntary. You are happy to vote for someone because no one forced you to do so. It’s true that political defection is a big problem, but coercive affidavits are not the way to go. It defeats the purpose of free choice.
If people guess that a certain leader is compelled to remain in a party, they won’t feel confident in voting for them. One would wish Kejriwal and Gandhis would get it in their heads.
