Digvijaya, Vijai ‘episode’ still remains a mystery
It’s now a week since the Congress high command decided to send AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh packing home and replace him with Dr Chella Kumar as the Goa desk in-charge. Digvijaya’s removal, however, hasn’t resolved this mystery till date. In fact, State Congress leaders are trying to find out why did Digvijaya not take Chellaji along with him when he went to meet Goa Forward supremo Vijaibab Sardesai on March 11 night soon after the election results showed that the Congress is short of four seats to form the government. Chellaji had played an active role in the Congress party’s resurgence in the State, more so in Salcete with his style of working. Why Digvijaya Singh did not take Chellaji into confidence and take him to Vijaibab’s apartment at Panaji on March 11 to seek his support to form the government still remains a mystery. Was it because Digvijaya and Vijaibab gelled well or simply because the outgoing general secretary did not want Chellaji to be around Vijaibab’s apartment? Only time will tell.
Calling Dr Chella Kumar
Where’s Dr Chella Kumar, the new AICC secretary in-charge of Goa desk? This question is doing the rounds in Congress circles and amongst the rank and file as it’s a week now since the Congress had appointed Dr Chellaji to head the Goa Congress, but is yet to make his presence felt in the State till date. Chellaji is not new to Goa, having covered lot of ground in the State since the time he was appointed as AICC secretary for Goa. Though AICC secretary Girishbab Chodankar had been the face of the Patradevi-Polem Padyatra, sources say it was Chellaji, who was the guiding force behind the yatra, which helped rejuvenate the party rank and file across the State. Sources say that Chellaji had been pre-occupied with a private family function and hence could not make his presence felt in Goa post-appointment as Goa desk in-charge. And, if Girishbab is to be believed, Chellaji may finally descend in Goa in the coming week, tentatively on May 8-9. Wait and watch.
Vijai ‘puts off’ CM’s Saxtti visit
Hazard a guess why did Manoharbhai postpone his visit to Saxttidom during the weekend when he was scheduled to visit Benaulim and other areas to discuss on the controversial Western bypass. Varca strongman Churchillbab attributed Manoharbhai’s delay in visiting Saxttidom to the absence of a PWD engineer. Sources, however, say that Manoharbhai changed his mind on his itinerary to Saxttidom for a reason, something to do with politics than with the PWD. It is learnt that Saxtti’s lone minister, Vijaibab is presently out of station, having gone to Bangalore to attend a conference on Saturday. Sources said when Manoharbhai spoke to the TCP Minister to keep him posted over his visit to Saxttidom, Vijaibab is believed to have maintained that he would be in Bangalore on Saturday. Sources said though Vijaibab reportedly told the Chief Minister that he has no problem if he inspects the areas affected by the Western bypass, Manoharbhai postponed his visit to next week. You know why?
Digambar playing safe
Is six-time Margao MLA and former Chief Minister Diggu not unduly worried with the way TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai is mooting projects in Fatorda, leaving Margao high and dry? No, says the former Chief Minister, who appears in no hurry to blame his close friend and ally in the Margao Municipal Council. Diggu argues that unlike Fatorda, there’s hardly any vacant place in the commercial capital to take up major projects, forgetting for a moment that the three public spaces earmarked for vehicular parking in his constituency are still awaiting a multi-storey parking project. And, he has no problem if Margao city is not included in the scheme of traffic signals, saying signals put up at Verna have only aggravated traffic instead of streamlining the same sans programming to meet Goa’s requirements. Sounds interesting, isn’t it?
All in faith
It’s an open secret that Varca strongman Churchillbab is a regular visitor to the pilgrim centre at Vailankanni. And, it’s not uncommon to find soccer crazy Churchillbab removing a picture of Our Lady of Vailankanni from his pocket to offer thanksgiving every time his team scores a goal. This week’s district Collectorate lift episode when tourist taxi operators were trapped inside the lift for well around 45 minutes brought to light that Churchillbab has a miraculous stone in his possession, which he used to heal a taxi operator. Churchillbab later told the media that the stone made of salt was brought all the way from Jerusalem and was given to him by one of his close friend. The Varca strongman was heard inquiring with the taxi operator on his condition after he made a sign of Cross on his forehead with the stone. Praise the Lord.
Churchill losing popularity?
Even a small boy would easily recognise sturdy built Varca strongman Churchillbab in Goa, one may say. However, when Electricity Chief Engineer Kolvekarbab failed to recognise the presence of the Benaulim MLA at an interaction of Power Minister Pandurangbab Madkaikar with MLAs from down South, the strongman appeared an agitated lot. While Kolvekarbab went on addressing the MLAs, he virtually forgot Churchillbab’s presence, seated besides him. A stunned Churchillbab was seen staring at the official before TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai intervened. The official sounded apologetic, but Churchillbab in his inimitable style, was heard asking the TCP Minister whether the chief electrical engineer is a new person to take charge of the top position in the electricity department. How’s that?
