A new found but paradoxical bon-homie seems to be developing between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his number two Vishwajit Rane of late.
Earlier this week, Sawant accused Opposition politicians of trying to cause confusion by spreading the misconception that they -- he and Vishwajit -- had differences.
“There is no confusion between us and we have good relations. People will not believe the misconception being spread by the opposition,” Sawant thundered at the event to inaugurate the newly constructed Paikul bridge in Guleli which lies Vishwajit's Valpoi constituency.
The chief minister's bolt-from-the-blue public statement in his constituency, according to many of our acquaintances present in the audience there, had Vishwajit turning a blushing pink and his spouse Dr Deviya Rane who represents the next door Poriem constituency break into a gushing smile.
Two days later on Wednesday, the top two government honchos were again closeted in the steering committee meeting held at the Ministerial Block of the Secretariat to discuss the sub-committee report on the sweeping changes to building laws in green zones which Vishwajit has for long been advocating. If our sources are not wrong, the paradoxical Pramod-Vishwajit bonhomie was in full display at this meeting too.
Change of heart or just the usual game of perception and deception? We all know better than to take at face value the spoken word of politicos...
Is it 'janata' or 'officers’ darbar?
It was quite obvious that the recently held ‘Janata Darbar’ in Mapusa created more buzz among the babus than the janata. Most, in fact almost all the babus, from senior most to the most junior level officers from various departments were present in good numbers for the darbar. Obviously, they must have been directed to remain present for the government’s showpiece event. While PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral huffed and puffed his way through the consultation process it was the babus who were at the receiving end of “Prince Cabral”.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, then the real janata was not amused, especially those who had dates at the quasi-judicial courts and other appointments at various government offices in Mapusa.
One litigant said that the government of the day was free to hold such darbars ‘n’ number of times but it should not paralyse the administrative system.
“On the day of the darbar the entire Mamlatdar’s office was empty in Mapusa. Ironically, the government which wanted to resolve issues through the darbar was creating hurdles in the work of the public,” the litigant averred.
He said the government should not block the day-to-day functioning of the administration and suggested that such janata darbars should be held on Saturdays when most offices are shut.
Deputy runs the
show in Mapusa
It's not the 'Sheriff' but her 'Deputy' who's running the show. This is the talk of the town for quite some time now in Mapusa. Viraj Phadke, The Vice-Chairperson of Mapusa's civic body is not only running the show in town but has entirely overshadowed the Chairperson Priya Mishal, reducing her to a mere figurehead and she's not complaining.
Although the vice-chairperson has a plush office in the civic building and certainly an incentive to stay put, Phadke is hardly found there. In fact, he is always present in the chairperson’s cabin. The talk in the town's corridors of power is that it is he who calls the shots on behalf of the chairperson. He also conducts and coordinates key meetings and even does most of the talking and firefighting.
So much so that at the last council meeting he even chose to undermine the chair and start addressing the council on behalf of her until councilor Prakash Bhivshet interrupted and told him to shut up, literally.
We get the gut feeling that even Priya Mishal does not mind the extra-constitutional interference from her deputy. The arrangement may have also got the blessing of the local MLA.
What say Josh...shoot the Sheriff, but not her deputy?
What's steering
Goa's tourism?
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho's revelation that the Pramod Sawant-led government will be writing to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reconsider the GST council's decision to levy a 28% tax on the face value of bets in casinos, online gaming and horse racing does not come as a surprise.
For several years now, the State has been bending backwards to accommodate the industry, ostensibly to promote tourism.
Godinho's politically incorrect stance, according to him, is because the move to tax at the highest GST slab of 28% and that too at face value rather than 'Gross Gaming Revenue' would hamper the industry and tourism activity in the State.
It seemingly highlights the significance of casinos to Goa's tourism-driven economy and Godinho himself argued that most flights coming into the State are fully booked, primarily due to tourists wanting to gamble at the casinos here.
Just a week ago, his cabinet colleague and Tourism Minister's Rohan Khaunte was waxing eloquent over changing tourists' perception of Goa being a 'sun, sea and sand' destination. But Godinho, it appears is fixated with the perception of tourists that Goa is a gambling destination.
Will the tourism minister make an effort in changing this narrative too? Or will he keep waging bets alongside Godinho in the permanently spinning roulettes on the Mandovi to keep Goa's tourism gamble going?
