MARGAO
There’s no politics involved when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat partnered against Goa Badminton Association office bearers at the Navelim indoor stadium to mark the inauguration of the U-15 National Badminton Championship on Wednesday.
Against the political developments unfolding in the State and speculations over the exit of Congress MLAs into the ruling BJP, however, both the Chief Minister and the Congress MLA were indeed the cynosure of all eyes at the indoor stadium.
First, the duo partnered against Goa Badminton Association president Thakar and Secretary Heble to mark the inauguration of the U-15
National Badminton Championship. And, when the duo was invited for tea by the organising committee, they were under the scanner of the guests around. The Chief Minister was seen lending his ears to the senior Congress MLA as they seemed engrossed in a discussion.
Kamat, however, sought to downplay the growing bonhomie between him and the Chief Minister. “I am the patron of the Goa Badminton Association and I am associated with the association, while the Chief Minister was invited as the chief guest. There was no politics involved when we partnered together against our opponents nor discussed anything when we sat together for tea,” Kamat said.
He added: “Before I evinced interest in swimming, I was actively involved in the badminton sport, having represented my institutions. How can we discuss politics when officials of the Badminton Association of India and Goa Badminton Association were all around us for tea.”
The duo, however, was cynosure of all eyes at the Indoor stadium, Navelim since their presence together came against the backdrop of the strong speculations that serious attempts were being made to form an eight-member group in the Congress to quit the party and merge into the ruling BJP.
