PANAJI
A week after being summoned to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah over reports of his likely exit from the BJP, Goa's Ports Minister and BJP MLA Michael Lobo, continues to rock the political arena with his political commentary.
On Tuesday, it was his elaborate comments on the breezy moves made by the Trinamool Congress in Goa over the last few days, which may once again catch the attention of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which Lobo belongs to.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Lobo said that he was expecting TMC leaders to get in touch with him, adding that such outreach is not rare, especially ahead of elections.
"They have not approached (me) yet, but I have heard that they want to meet me. They will meet everyone who will win seats," Lobo told reporters.
When asked if he was keen to contest the Calangute assembly seat on a TMC ticket, Lobo said: "You have to hear everyone and learn about their road map..."
The Ports Minister also said that with months still to go for the assembly polls, which are scheduled to be held in early 2022, it was still "little too early" to comment on the electoral chances of the TMC, which has flirted with elections in Goa in 2012 and 2014, only to meet an inconsequent end on both occasions.
"I do not want to underestimate any political party or any individual who has joined TMC. A lot of Goan politicians have joined TMC and we should not underestimate them or the party," Lobo said.
"Those who will join TMC, they will try their level best to win the seat. Those who do not, will try their level best to win (for) the other side, whichever party, Congress, Goa Forward or BJP, they represent," Lobo said.
Lobo also highlighted the efforts made by the TMC to draw visibility in Goa.
"That is why they (TMC), all hoardings, boards are being booked by TMC. Right from North entry to South entry on the highway or on major district roads they have hoardings," the Ports Minister said.
Last week, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Lobo at his home in Parra, in wake of comments made by the Calangute MLA about fielding his wife Delilah in the Siolim assembly constituency and professing control over several other assembly seats in Bardez.
His comments have caused varying degrees of consternation among the BJP leadership, including former Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar, who sought the party's intervention over Lobo's expansionist plans which encroach upon his turf.
The Fadnavis meeting was followed up by a meeting with Amit Shah in the national capital, where Lobo was flown to. Fadnavis was also present at the meeting. While party sources said that Lobo was "advised" to put the 'party before self' by Shah, Lobo claimed on the contrary that his wife Delilah topped the BJP's survey of candidates likely to win the Siolim seat.
In an interview to a news platform on Tuesday, Lobo also maintained that Shah questioned him over reports which suggested that he might quit the BJP, which the Minister denied.
He also said that his wife was considering contesting the seat as an independent candidate.
Lobo's statements vis- a-vis the TMC on Tuesday, could result in a fresh batch of intrigue over the Minister's political moves in the immediate future, especially in view of his commentary on Tuesday which equates Modi's past ambition with Mamata's present political aspiration.
"Goa has been very lucky to BJP and PM Narendra Modi. Mamata Banerjee feels the same way. She is in the race of the future PM of this country. She is trying to set up a base in Goa and from here to launch a wave. She feels like that," Lobo maintained, recalling the BJP's national executive meeting in Goa in 2013, where Modi was appointed as the party's election in-charge for the 2014 general elections paving way for his rise to Prime Minister party from Goa.
