Introduction:
Elections are a two-way responsibility, both of the electorate as well as of the candidates. We should elect the right people, rather than electing the wrong people and blaming them. In our first few assemblies, we elected respectable persons who enjoyed high credibility. Nowadays, we want to elect people who are at our back and call, to serve our purposes, even if they are illegal.

Evil of Defections and Desertions
Lack of ethics and total disregard for people’s mandate is at the core of defections and other political immorality. Goa has gained notoriety in the past as well as today for record number of defections and desertions driven by selfish considerations. Though some defections were much publicized; the fact is that, there have been defections and desertions all across the political spectrum. Let us be honest: we too have to share the blame for the same, as we have failed to confront those concerned, giving the impression that their actions are justified. In fact, we ourselves have tried to justify such acts on the pretext of development and even glorifying concerned persons as being the ones who help us in our needs.

We are promised that defections will be prevented. In the absence of better legislation, the only law against the evil of defection is in the Constitution (Schedule X); private affidavits cannot prevent the same and would be unenforceable.

National Scenario
We are confronted with intolerance, misuse of law enforcing agencies to suppress opponents, complete control of the mainstream media, presumed monopoly on truth, draconian laws, federalism is under challenge, legislations being bulldozed, and the farmers’ struggle for justice. Every issue is sought to be projected in polarized terms. There have been attacks on weaker sections, and on minorities under the pretext of forcible conversions. Prayer services of various faiths, including Christmas celebrations were disrupted and educational institutions attacked. There have been shocking calls for genocide.

State Scene
In our midst, there is a grip by certain individuals over the voters, which has assumed demonic proportions. On our part, we need to look not only at the candidate but also at her/his party. Large corporates often colonize (remote-control) through political entities. Money and freebees are distributed and unfortunately many people accept them. These offer no solution for unemployment, for escalating prices and homelessness. Many candidates are propped up to divide votes on sectarian considerations. There is a system of divide and rule working in our midst.
We have grave local issues concerning degradation of our environment which have to be addressed by appropriate legislation. Evasion of public scrutiny by manipulation of Major Ports Act, non-implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments, dilution of Environment Protection Act and so on, are matters of great concern affecting the livelihood of Goans.

There is frequent misuse of religion for political purposes through much publicized blessing ceremonials and offers of free pilgrimages. Appealing to people to take money but to vote for oneself is blatantly improper and illegal. Floating of fancy financial schemes which cannot be honoured is highly deplorable, more so, when the State itself is in debt.

Projecting electoral faces on the basis of caste and community is against the letter and spirit of our Constitution.

Conclusion
We have to consider the situation in which we are and respond appropriately.

The peculiarity this time is that there are many choices; parties with national ambitions are here to increase their vote percentages, so as to gain national recognition, even by recklessly splitting secular votes. We should be mindful of the possibility of communal and fascist forces camouflaging behind the labels of political alternatives.

Let us not be manipulated by political experiments, electoral adventurism and deceptive propaganda. We have joined the mainstream of national life long back. We need to remain in the national mainstream in a dispensation which is stable and secular.

We should certainly vote; however, after prayerful discernment.

Issued by the Council for Social Justice and Peace – January