the goan I network
MARGAO
In a development that may raise many an eyebrow in the political circles, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, his ministerial colleagues, including his two deputies, besides BJP MLAs gathered at Curtorim constituency on Saturday to shower praises on three-time Congress MLA Reginaldo on his 50th birthday celebrations at Raia.
While the Chief Minister announced that Reginaldo will get a big position, whichever political side he may be in the future, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo was categorical in saying that Reginaldo will surely be a part of the ruling side and become a deputy Chief Minister next time round.
When the media later asked the Chief Minister whether there can be a third deputy Chief Minister in his cabinet, Sawant shot back saying, “Michael has not spoken anything about making anyone a deputy Chief Minster now,” but he hastened to add that anything is possible in politics.
What surprised many a guest at Reginaldo’s birthday celebrations at the Raia Panchayat hall was the presence of BJP ministers and MLAs, including the Chief Minister, his two deputies, Manohar Ajgaonkar and Chandrakant Kavelkar, ministers Michael Lobo and Filipe Neri Rodrigues, besides MLAs Babush Monserrate, Alina Saldanha, Francis Silveira, Clafacio Dias.
The Chief Minister went to the extent of saying that the presence of the BJP ministers and MLAs at Reginaldo’s birthday only goes to show the love and affection they have for the Congress MLA.
On the other hand, only two senior Congress leaders, who were present at the birthday celebration and addressed the gathering were Opposition Leader, Digambar Kamat and former Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane. The Goan understands that many a Congress leader had preferred to extend their birthday wishes to the Congress MLA at his residence earlier in the day. Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai along with party MLA Vinod Paliekar had wished Reginaldo in the morning at his residence.
While extending his wishes to Reginaldo on behalf of his government and BJP, the Chief Minister announced that whichever side the Curtorim MLA will be in the future, he will surely get a big position. “Reginaldo is my good friend, but I will never ask him not to raise issues. It is his duty as an Opposition MLA to raise issues and my duty to reply. Reginaldo is one MLA who will never abandon issues midway. We fight in the Assembly and outside, but we come to celebrate birthdays.
He will be our friend to take Goa forward,” the CM said. He took the platform to acknowledge the support extended by Reginaldo to the government to resolve public issues such as tourism, garbage to his predecessors Manohar Parrikar and Laxmikant Parsekar.
In his address, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo said it may be perhaps for the first that a Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues have come to wish an opposition MLA.
“If there’s one person whom the Chief Minister has love and affection, it is the Curtorim MLA. I can say that Reginaldo will be in the ruling side in the future as a Minister and may become a deputy Chief Minister. That much guarantee I can give to the people of Curtorim that whichever side Reginaldo maybe, he will be a Minister and a deputy Chief Minister”, he added.
In his address, Reginaldo profusely thanked the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs and all others for attending his birthday celebration. Dedicating his birthday to the people of the constituency, who have stood by him over the years, Reginaldo said he would continue his good works in the opposition, saying it is his duty to deliver being in the opposition.
Besides the two deputy CMs, Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat, Pratapsing Rane, Mahila Congress Chief Pratima Coutinho, former Ministers Dayanand Narvekar were amongst the speakers who addressed the gathering.
