the goan I network
MARGAO
Salcete’s political climate seems to be hotting up as the Goa Forward party and the opposition Congress locked in a war of words “ the first ever since the regional party joined hands with the BJP to form the coalition government in 2017.
Goa Forward supremo and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai seemed to have taken strong offence to the absence of Congress MLAs at as many as three government functions, be it the Goa Revolution day function, inauguration of SGPDA’s renovated fish market or launching of the Citizens Service Centre (CSC) in the district Collectorate on Thursday.
If Vijai had attacked the Congress MLAs for their absence at the fish market inauguration earlier this week, he took the opposition MLAs head on in the district Collectorate on Thursday, questioning their decision to boycott the official government functions held in Salcete.
“Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco had told the media that BJP will not win the South Goa seat because of the failure of Mission Salcete. Why is he absent today at the inauguration of the CSC. Is this not mission Salcete?,” Sardessai asked.
Sardesai also questioned the Congress MLAs for their absence, saying boycotting functions will not benefit the people.
Whether it is a coincidence or by design, this is the third government function in Margao in the last fortnight that Congress MLAs (barring Margao MLA Digambar Kamat) have not attended.
At the Goa Revolution Day program, Congress MLAs and leaders paid tributes at the Martyr memorial separately, while not a single Congress MLA made it to the PDA’s market inauguration earlier this week.
The political rivalry has further intensified with the TCP Minister giving his blessings to Yuri Alemao, son of former Minister Joaquim Alemao, by not only giving him a ear, but promising to resolve public issues leaving Congress Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias in a tight spot.
That Yuri has disclosed plans to embrace the Goa Forward party is further expected to intensify the battle between the ruling regional party and the opposition Congress in the coming days.
What’s important to note is the significant shift in the Congress approach towards Goa Forward leadership in the party bastion. After treating GF and more so Sardesai, with kid gloves since the 2017 Assembly election, the Congress appears bracing up to take the battle in the ruling camp.
Commented a political observer: “The Congress has started displaying an aggressive approach towards Sardesai for the first time in the last one year, more so after the change in GPCC guard. Unlike the past, Congress MLAs, be it Reginaldo or Clafacio have sent a message loud and clear to the ruling camp that they will not take things lying down anymore.”
That Congress district president Joe Dias went a step further to remind the TCP Minister of his promise to subsidize fish, pav and coconut indicates that the Opposition congress is bracing up to finally take on Salcete’s lone Minister.
