Battles of Winnables

EDITORIAL
Posted on 2009-01-07
WE do not yet know whether the inconclusive talks on the names of candidates for forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha from Goa held in the presence of the Nationalist Congress Party chief, Mr Sharad Pawar imply major or minor differences among the various political partners and stakeholders in the ruling coalition. Going by the probable names discussed, the parties are still quite broad-based. It has to be said though that there being no official word on the nature of deliberations and the pluses and minuses discussed with regard to each candidate, we cannot be sure which way the majority opinion is moving. Ultimately of course, the choice will depend on the ‘winnability’ of the candidate. However, quite often this phrase ‘winnability’ can hardly attract unanimity. Every party and every candidate thinks and pleads they are ‘winnable.’ Some will quote ‘caste’ factors, claiming they have this big chunk of caste voters; some will quote ‘experience’ factor, claiming that they were elected before from the constituency or got so much vote last time; others will quote ‘work’ factor, claiming that they have been silently and arduously working among the people and fighting for benefits to them under various schemes. We do not know yet, how when they meet next, how they will come out of the ‘battles of winnables’ to make the right choices.