An ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar makes a surprise entry near the new Mandovi bridge. He is escorted by a team and is believed to be inspecting the progress of the third bridge, even sporting a headgear. This has come a day after a photo was released showing Parrikar unveiling a plaque in a symbolic laying of foundation stone of the prestigious National Institute of Technology at Cuncolim from his private residence at Dona Paula. The last time the chief minister’s photo was released was at a cabinet briefing at his residence on October 31.
In the fitness of things, questioning the merits of such exercises and inspection of bridge works are subjects of another argument. More than speaking anything else, the BJP is trying to send a terse message to the opposition who is keen on a health update of the chief minister. And secondly, the BJP is attempting to shoo away those eyeing additional portfolios in the hope of the CM divesting most of his key departments.
If Parrikar’s active involvement in administration remains a mystery, so are the whimsical ways of allies. December 11 was the deadline given by the BJP State leadership to resolve all issues with the MGP and other disgruntled allies. Till now there is no word from the BJP leadership on its troubleshooting efforts, neither is there any ‘noise’ from the ‘trouble-makers’. The truce mode seems to be on. It’s a mystery that the government continues to remain mum on the mining conundrum after the BJP leadership on November 20 assured a solution in 15 days.
It’s a mystery that MGP chooses to take the BJP to court challenging recruitment of former Congress MLAs Subhash Shiordkar and Dayanand Sopte and calls it a fight for ethics and principles of democracy. It’s a mystery Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma chooses to issue a circular amid an air of uncertainty, spelling out the application of Model Code of Conduct in cases of “premature dissolution” when caretaker government takes charge. This was preceded by another mysterious circular on November 13 virtually making power minister Nilesh Cabral a power centre of administration. A circular directing all senior officers and heads of department to divert files to the office of Cabral for approval.
It’s for mysteries like these that Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who faces an uphill and unaccomplished task in his own constituency, nurses ambitions of becoming a chief minister and bringing in reforms in Goa. From photo-ops to deadlines and power centres, mysteries of the current dispensation continue to baffle the mind of Goans. It’s to be seen what follows next.
