CALUMNIOUS CAMPAIGN

People of all faiths contested the elections but none of them chose to denigrate and defame persons of their own faith through hand bills, emails and sms' as persons from our own community did.

The vicious campaign, which included pulling skeletons out from the past, calling names such as 'Judas' and the Bombay Catholic Sabha - 'anti congress', was uncharitable to say the least. In a democracy like ours nobody can suppress anybody's right to contest elections.

The election unfortunately saw the defeat of independent candidates due the large constituencies, the well entrenched political system, muscle power and money power. One could see hired crowds rally behind the candidates, hired agents, hired volunteers and shameful flow of money to win at all costs. Most of the crorepati candidates who spent heavily won. There is little doubt that they will earn manifold during their tenure as MLA. This has resulted in politics becoming the breeding ground of corruption. Good governance goes for a toss and decent people shun elections as they know that they have little or no chance.

It is a matter of pride that the Bombay Catholic Sabha and Jagrut Nagrik Manch chose to face up to the system by encouraging good candidates to contest the elections and supported them thereafter. Even Cardinal Oswald Gracias in his welcome speech at the Indian Mission Congress (IMC) on Oct. 14, 2009 at Goregoan expressed his gladness that a number of Catholics were contesting the state elections. The five day deliberations at the IMC focused on how it was important to be witness to Christ's message. Evangelism is all about becoming the message and the messenger.

Winning is not every thing. The effort to set things right is. The candidates who took the plunge were brave. Their spirit should not be dented no matter how badly they lost. It is a matter of pride that they chose to contest in the face of heavy odds. They are the harbinger of hope for the future.