In one political masterstroke Town and Country Planning minister Vijai Sardesai roped in former Congress MLA Anastasio ‘Babush' Monseratte into the Goa Forward Party putting to rest speculations of the much-talked about Babush-Parrikar contest for the forthcoming assembly by-poll in Panaji. Babush's induction will not only effectively set off any feeling of instability creeping into the ruling coalition vis-à-vis a much-talked about tight contest against the chief minister, but will also give a back-door entry for the Taleigao strongman into active politics once again.
Goa Forward President Vijai who has now emerged as the kingmaker of Goan politics said that entry of Babush is the "stability certificate of Parikar government" and sang praises of Parrikar, emphatically speaking about the supremacy Parrikar enjoys as a leader. The TCP minister's claim that his party will put up their own candidate whenever a vacancy arises in the event of a Congress MLA quitting is enough indication that the recent recruit in Goa Forward is the candidate in waiting.
While political circles went abuzz over the deal brokered between BJP and Goa Forward, there emerged one strong probability to this entire narrative from the political point of view and Congress MLA from Santa Cruz Tony Fernandes who is Babush's man Friday fits into the plot perfectly. Tony who was recently caught in an eye of a storm after his supporters in Santa Cruz cautioned him against stepping down in favour of Babush, is relatively at ease now and open to the idea of calling it a day "when asked". With a strong BJP vote bank of 5,560 coupled with another 6,202 voters of Tony, Babush is expected to romp home comfortably. The script doesn't end there. It would be then interesting to see how Parrikar makes an opening for Babush in the coalition ministry which is already at its full strength. What is also to be seen is how suitably Tony will be compensated for being the sacrificial lamb.
Vijai who has now taken the centre-stage of politics in the State has effectively killed three birds with one stone. Besides clearing the way for Parrikar in Panaji and working out Babush's re-entry into politics, he will also ensure that Congress is further reduced by one number in the legislative assembly and at the same time will virtually see Congress' hopes of a fightback in the by-poll go up in a puff of smoke. The sudden move has caught the Congress unawares with party leaders in the State clueless of any plan B. Chella Kumar, the AICC in-charge of Goa, appeared to be in the know about Babush's moves, but the question is what stopped the party from making its move. What kept them waiting. For now, it appears to be game over for the Congress.
Goa Forward President Vijai who has now emerged as the kingmaker of Goan politics said that entry of Babush is the "stability certificate of Parikar government" and sang praises of Parrikar, emphatically speaking about the supremacy Parrikar enjoys as a leader. The TCP minister's claim that his party will put up their own candidate whenever a vacancy arises in the event of a Congress MLA quitting is enough indication that the recent recruit in Goa Forward is the candidate in waiting.
While political circles went abuzz over the deal brokered between BJP and Goa Forward, there emerged one strong probability to this entire narrative from the political point of view and Congress MLA from Santa Cruz Tony Fernandes who is Babush's man Friday fits into the plot perfectly. Tony who was recently caught in an eye of a storm after his supporters in Santa Cruz cautioned him against stepping down in favour of Babush, is relatively at ease now and open to the idea of calling it a day "when asked". With a strong BJP vote bank of 5,560 coupled with another 6,202 voters of Tony, Babush is expected to romp home comfortably. The script doesn't end there. It would be then interesting to see how Parrikar makes an opening for Babush in the coalition ministry which is already at its full strength. What is also to be seen is how suitably Tony will be compensated for being the sacrificial lamb.
Vijai who has now taken the centre-stage of politics in the State has effectively killed three birds with one stone. Besides clearing the way for Parrikar in Panaji and working out Babush's re-entry into politics, he will also ensure that Congress is further reduced by one number in the legislative assembly and at the same time will virtually see Congress' hopes of a fightback in the by-poll go up in a puff of smoke. The sudden move has caught the Congress unawares with party leaders in the State clueless of any plan B. Chella Kumar, the AICC in-charge of Goa, appeared to be in the know about Babush's moves, but the question is what stopped the party from making its move. What kept them waiting. For now, it appears to be game over for the Congress.
