Well, Vijaibab with wife Ushabai is leaving for Canada on Monday to drop daughter Urvi, who’s doing advanced research studies in that country since the last two years. In Vijaibab’s absence, questions are raised as to who will hold the fort “ whether it will be his trusted lieutenants, Ramnarthbai, Nolanbab and Alisonbab or the Goa Forward leadership comprising the Prashant-Mohandas duo. Vijaibab will be indeed keen to have a strike force ready back home in his absence with the Sadhvis, Saraswatis, et al descending in Goa demanding beef ban and the Congress leadership equally in a combative mood to take pot shots at the TCP Minister and his Goemkarponn. Wait and watch.
Net neutrality?
This may indeed raise many an eyebrow in the camp of Varca strongman Bab Churchill. Hazard a guess what was the Roland-Reginald group, likely to control the Varca panchayat body, doing at Dovondem, the residence of TCP Minister, Vijaibab Sardesai during the weekend? Well, the duo along with three other group members, including Rolandbab’s wife Vincentinbai, were seen at Vijaibab’s office on Saturday noon. It is learnt that the sarpanch in waiting Rolandbab has been a long time friend of the TCP Minister and the group must have made a courtesy call on Vijaibab seeking government’s help and assistance on the development front. The courtesy call on the TCP Minister, however, assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Roland-Reginaldo duo had formed what they called as a neutral group in the panchayat, neither aligned to the Varca strongman nor any other politician. Any questions?
Hammer and tongs
AICC secretary Girishbab Chodankar, it appears, isn’t going to let his bitter rival Vijaibab Sardesai off the hook. And, what better way to pin down the TCP Minister than to feast on the fodder fed by the saffron brigade. If the VHP leader’s statement on beef ban gave an armament to the Congress leaders to fire some shots at Vijaibab a month ago, Sadhvi Saraswati’s demand to hang beef eating people came as a God sent opportunity for Girishbab to further pin down the TCP Minister. That Girishbab demanded to know the whereabouts of the TCP Minister when Sadhvi Saraswati stirred a hornet’s nest despite the fact that Vijaibab had uploaded his photograph seeking darshan of Saibaba at Shirdi, indicates that the Congress leaders were determined not to let the Goa Forward supremo scot free. Politicos from Saxttidom such as Avertanbab, Mickkybab, Caitubab and Benjaminbab had met a similar fate during the last five years. How’s that?
Changing equations
Are there two groups - one led by Churchill and another by Reagan - in the 9-member Colva Panchayat body? Well, while Churchillbab’s supporters had virtually swept the election for the Colva panchayat, the Churchill camp is now divided over the choice of candidate for the post of sarpanch. While Churchillbab has rallied behind sitting sarpanch Meninbab for the hot chair, a group styled itself as the Reagan group wants Anthony Mam to head the panchayat body. Anthony Mam makes no bones of the fact that his group owes allegiance to Reagan and is going ahead with the formation of the new panchayat body under his leadership. By the way, Colvenkars are eager and anxious to know this Reagan, who has lent his support to Anthony Mam’s group. Wait till Monday to know the latest from Colva.
Plum position
Is Goa Forward party chief spokesman, Prashantbab Naik, the former PSU student leader who is known for his fiery speeches, set to take over the reigns of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao? Days after Goa Forward party supremo Vijaibab Sardesai handpicked Goa Forward party president Dr Renukabai to head the prized South Goa Planning body, the TCP Minister is believed to have settled for the party’s chief spokesman to head the premiere cultural institution in the commercial capital. Sources in the know said the government notification appointing Prashantbhai as the Ravindra Bhavan chief is expected to come anytime from now. During his student days, he was known for his fiery speeches and his role in the street plays exposing the government of the day. Prashantbab has a task cut out for him, more so when his predecessor Damubab Naik had set a benchmark during the last five years.
