PANAJI
Just as politics makes strange bedfellows, cricket too is following suit. Rivals on the political turf they may be, but on Cricket's world cup stage in England, Goa's warring politicians are displaying unusual bonhomie in the spectator stands as was amply visible during the high octane India vs Pakistan match on Sunday.
A joint video message wishing the Indian team luck in the match issued by Goa's Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, Panaji's newly elected MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and the latter's arch-rival in his Taleigao pocket borough and BJP General Secretary Dattaprasad Naik went viral on social media.
Sardesai in a message said: "We are not together in Goa. Here we are cheering for India and sure India will win. Bharat Mata ki jai!"
Sardesai is Goa Forward Party president and is currently on the other side of the political aisle as the Congress. Monserrate recently ditched Sardesai's outfit and joined the Congress to contest and win the Panaji seat which fell vacant following the death of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Dattaprasad Naik, on the other hand, has been a direct rival of Monserrate in the Taleigao constituency.
Earlier last week, Goa's social media community was agog with critique, intrigue and conspiracy theories in the backdrop of the perennially shifty politics when photographs of Sardesai and Monserrate stepping out of the arrival lounge of Heathrow airport in London surfaced.
Mindful of the spin their bonhomie in London took on social media, Sardesai took to Twitter to claim that if politics divides, cricket "especially an India versus Pakistan match" unites.
The photograph showing Sardesai and Monserrate walking out of the London airport with suitcases on trolleys had gone viral and social media users hurled barbs at both flamboyant politicians.
"In Goa, you might find us on opposing sides, trying our best to bowl each other out politically, but when #India takes on #Pakistan in Manchester on the 16th, we'll both be together on the side of our great nation, rooting for our boys from the stands! #WorldCup 2019" Sardesai had tweeted to explain why they are in London together.
