Will the six Congress MLAs from Xasttidom, including first-time legislators Wilfredbab and Clafaciobab, make any difference to the electoral prospects of Jr Rane in the ensuing bypolls for the Valpoi seat? In fact, Congress Legislature party’s decision that all the 16 party MLAs, including six MLAs from Xasttidom, will camp at Valpoi to defeat Jr Rane in the coming bypolls sounds interesting. CLP leader Babu Kavlekar called up the media to announce the decision, but he could not explain whether any of the six Xastti’s MLAs out of the total 16 MLAs, can help defeat Jr Rane in the bypoll. Babu apparently admitted that the Xastti MLAs may not wield any influence on the ground in a constituency like Valpoi to turn the tables against Jr Rane, but the CLP leader tried to drive home the point that the move may help the party express solidarity with the Congress party than to showcase the capability of the MLAs to outwit Jr Rane in his fiefdom. Wait and watch.
Two-pronged electoral battle
Who amongst the duo “ Chief Minister Manoharbhai Parrikar or Jr Rane “ will be the Congress’ main enemy in the bypolls for the Legislative Assembly? Well, while the CLP has vowed that all its 16 MLAs will camp in Valpoi to defeat Jr Rane in the bypoll, the CLP spoke nothing about the party’s plan to take on the Chief Minister, who has to seek re-election within six months. More so, when it is evident that Manoharbhai will have to seek mandate from any one of the 13 Assembly constituencies, currently represented by the party MLAs. CLP leader Babu Kavlekar sought to defend the party’s silence on Manoharbhai. He said the CLP’s decision to camp in Valpoi stems from the fact that while there’s already a vacancy in Valpoi by Jr Rane’s resignation, the Chief Minister is yet to zero in on the constituency he would contest in the bypoll. Babu says the Congress will treat both Manoharbhai and Jr Rane equally without any discrimination, vowing to defeat the duo in the hustings. An ardous task indeed, isn’t it?
From across the fence
Will ministers Vijaibab Sardesai and Babu Azgaonkar stand by Diggu this time round if the saffron dispensation tightens the noose around him in the mining scam? Well, this question did the rounds in the commercial capital this week after the crime branch summoned Diggu for interrogations in connection with the mining scam. When the BJP government was bracing to arrest Diggu in the Louis Berger scam along with Churchillbab, it was Vijaibab and Babu who expressed their solidarity with the Margao MLA. In fact, the Vijai-Babu duo was amongst the prominent speakers who addressed Diggu’s supporters near his Malbhat residence when the saffron dispensation tried to turn the heat on the former chief minister. This time round, both Vijaibab and Babu are very much part of the government headed by Manoharbhai, raising questions whether the duo will be able to show their solidarity with Diggu in the mining case once again. Wait and watch.
Patting his own back
An article featuring NCP supremo Sharad Pawarji in a national daily came in handy for Varca strongman Bab Churchill to take potshots at party colleagues back home and also justify his decision to support the saffron dispensation led by Manoharbhai Parrikar. Churchillbab appeared very much pleased with Pawarji’s statement, blaming the Congress for the failure to form a government in Goa. Ever since the news appeared in the daily, Churchillbab had not stopped showing the newspaper clippings to all and sundry, including the media. In fact, despite the show cause notice served on him by the NCP leadership, Churchillbab said his decision to support the saffronites stands vindicated by Pawarji’s statement. Claiming that he has received a clean chit from none other than the party all-powerful supremo Pawarji, an emboldened Churchillbab berated his colleagues, saying that he was the lone successful party candidate amongst the lot, while the remaining 16 candidates even forfeited their deposits in the hustings. Any questions?
Preemptive strike
Has the contentious issue of beef ban raised by right wing radicals come as a blessing in disguise for Goa Forward party supremo Vijai Sardesai to assert his secular credentials after taking a beating from his core voter base for extending life support to the saffron dispensation? First came the salvo from BJP’s Subramanyam Swamy, followed by the VHP threat to enforce beef consumption in the tourist state. But, unlike the Avertan’s, Benjamin’s and Caitu’s in the previous BJP dispensation, the TCP minister preferred to lead from the front. Observers say, by doing so, he not only preempted his opponents to make capital out of the issue, but also tried to recover ground he lost in his fiefdom post March 11 for bringing the saffronites to power. How’s that?
