Some of the neo-saffronites from Goa's political arena have been putting their best foot forward to prove their saffron credentials. Nothing new. Remember the "I am a Hindu-Christian" assertion of the late Francis D'Souza eight years ago?
D'Souza's brain teaser, perceivably, an attempt to prove his BJP-credentials, was soon followed by another such attempt by current Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho who had astonishingly switched over to the saffron camp on the eve of the 2017 elections with a high-voltage hug from the late Manohar Parrikar. Weeks after his defection and subsequent electoral win, visuals of Godinho performing rituals bare-breasted and dotting a saffron 'puddvem' at a temple were flashed all over in newspapers and on social media.
Now, TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane is the latest neo-saffronite to seemingly attempt to show-case his credentials as a politician from the BJP stable.
Rane Jr spent a decade as a legislator and some more years prior to it as the de-facto boss of the CMO in his father's de-jure Congress reign. But now, he is in the BJP and the Sattari satrap has got enlightenment to discover how "dark" a spot in the history of India's democracy the Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency was. His Twitter timeline was on Wednesday dotted by an eloquent tribute to the saffron party's ideological icon Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
More 'Pope-ish than the Pope', as they say.
"Sorry" but it's not me to blame
The monsoon has come down heavily and the fury of the rains have washed away roads leaving crater-like potholes for vehicle users to negotiate.
Pot-holes may not be a novelty in Goa, but the fact that most of these roads are freshly done, many of them just a couple of months ago, has left ministers and local politicos who posed triumphantly with the hot-mix carpet laying machines, running for cover.
First off the blocks was Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate. The MLA of the capital wasted no time in issuing an apology. "I am sorry" he said to citizens, many of who went hammer and tongs on various social media platforms over the disintegrating roads.
Well done, especially at a time humility is hardly a trait displayed very often by our thick-skinned politicos. Except that Babush's apology wasn't unqualified. The MLA, who is currently Revenue Minister, didn't stop at saying sorry but went on to make it clear that it wasn't his fault, but that of the concerned contractor and engineers of the PWD.
A 'vigilance inquiry' was demanded and PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral responded, recommending to the top honchos at his department to cancel the contractor's licence.
Trust them to deflect the blame, even when caught with their pants down.
Constructive criticism, what’s that?
One rarely comes across a Chief Minister publicly praising legislators of the Opposition, particularly from the Congress. But CM Pramod Sawant did at the celebration on completion of 100 days of the BJP-led government, picking Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira for praise of what he called his 'constructive criticism'.
A pleasant surprise indeed.
Ferreira is not new in politics, although he is a first time MLA in the Goa Legislative Assembly. He has been a long time member of Congress and besides being a former Advocate General has seemingly learnt the nuances of politics.
Of late, he slammed the BJP-led State government for mis-handling the OBC reservation in panchayats and also took on the Centre for indulging in vendetta politics. The Aldona MLA also believes in giving the devil…err the angel his due and praised the CM at a couple of public events in Aldona-Mapusa.
Not long ago, he recounted at a public event how a woman from Aldona who was in desperate need of financial help was referred by him to the CM and Sawant bab was good enough to promptly clear the cheque.
At a time when competition in politics is at its peak, being an MLA is turning out to be quite a trapeze act for the likes of Ferreira and the others warming the Opposition benches.
By the way, the developing camaraderie between the CM and the Aldona MLA may give some ambitious politicians in the BJP very anxious moments.
What say Glenn Souza Ticlo?
Mapusa council's game of thrones
Winds of change seem to be blowing in the BJP-run Mapusa Municipal Council and the point of discussion is, who is going to go first: the chairperson or the vice chairperson?
Or moreover, will a section of the BJP group manage to evict the chief officer from his chair?
In what appears to be a battle of wits, a concise effort is being made to topple the "uncooperative" Chairperson Shubhangi Vaigankar who has however managed to keep her chair with dollops of assistance from the top BJP leadership housed in the little village of Pirna in Bardez taluka.
The toppling move has gained credence because it is backed by an equally ambitious politician who has to prove a point or two to the leadership.
The game to topple the chairperson is being played very subtly but the one to oust the Vice-Chairperson Chandrashekhar Benkar is out in the open.
A couple of young Turks are making a dash for the post even as the vice chairperson is desperately trying to cling to the chair.
So who is going to go first? Your guess will be as good as ours.
Politics makes strange bedfellows
It was on Wednesday at the Goa legislative complex where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his gang of ministers converged to 'celebrate' their 100 days in office. We aren't sure what was it they celebrated but the gathering did offer photo-ops that give us fodder to fill up columns like this.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate left many bemused with their unusually pally encounter. At one juncture, 'Patrao' was seen animatedly whispering into Babush's ears, and this particular shot had a netizen post on social media that the two were perhaps discussing the export of Panaji's flood waters.
For decades or as long as their political paths met, these two politicians were known sworn enemies. Remember those days when the Taleigao strongman was sent behind bars for his brawny encounter with the Panaji police station? Or for that matter his mayor-son Rohit Monserrate incarceration in the alleged rape of a minor? Well, Ravi was the Home Minister then and the two were lashing their tongues at each other.
When was it that the two veterans buried the hatchet? Or have they at all?
Politics indeed makes strange bedfellows.
(Compiled by Ashley do Rosario with inputs from Agnelo Pereira)
