Were any of the six Congress MLAs from Xasttidom amongst the lot who had cross voted in the just concluded presidential election, leaving the Congress stranded at 11 votes when the effective strength of the party legislators in the Legislative Assembly is 16? That's not all. How many amongst the total 10 Congress MLAs from South Goa cast their vote in favour of party-backed nominee, Meira Kumar? Pose the question to saffron brigade's bitter critic Reginaldbab Lourenco and the three-time Curtorim Congress MLA does not rule out the possibility of a MLA from Xasttidom cross voting in the Presidential election. And, he suspected that there may be as many 2-3 MLAs from down South, including Xattidom, who may have cast their vote in favour of the saffron brigade backed Kovind. No reward for the right guess on the names of Congress MLAs from Xasttidom or down south who have cross voted in the election.
Split in Congress?
It wasn't a surprise for many when it became clear that Goa Forward party supremo Vijaibab Sardesai and his two ministerial colleagues, Jayeshbab and Vinodbab would throw their lot behind the NDA presidential candidate Kovind Ram. For, the Goa Forward party has been a member of the BJP-led alliance ever since Vijaibab joined hands with Manoharbhai post March 11 to keep the Congress at bay. What, however, came as a surprise was the jubilation on the Dovondem bandh over the cross voting by the Congress MLAs in favour of the NDA nominee. The reason is simple: though it was clear that Kovind would get the majority votes in Goa, Vijaibab and his camp appeared jubilant when as many as four MLAs, crossing voting in favour of the saffron brigade's candidate. Vijaibab had to face the brunt since March 11, when Congressmen in general accused him for an U-turn. Cross voting in the Congress camp has indeed been a welcome news on the Dovondem bandh. Any questions?
Keeping a close watch
Fatorda BJP block's stand that there's no question of stopping party work just because arch rival Vijaibab has joined hands with Manoharbhai Parrikar makes reading interesting. Assuming that there's no fiat from the party top brass to Damubab Naik and Fatorda block president Arunbab Faldesai and his team to stop party work in the constituency, the question that remained unanswered is simple - is the BJP strengthening its base in Fatorda to take on the Congress or Vijaibab in the next Assembly session? For the moment, Vijaibab and his Goa Forward party is a coalition partner in the Manoharbhai-led BJP government. It is also a fact that it was Vijaibab who was responsible for convincing Manoharbhai back home to head the government after his two-year stint as the country's Defence Minister. The Vijaibab camp is closing watching and analyzing the statements emanating from the BJP Fatorda block, more so with Damubab out to cover lost ground in Fatorda. Wait and watch.
Silence is golden
What role will AICC Secretary Girishbab Chodankar play in the changing political environment in the Goa Congress party with Shantarambab Naik succeeding Luizinhbab Faleiro as the state Congress Chief? Well, it is a sheer coincidence that Girishbab has been maintaining silence over a fortnight now, with many terming it as "strategic silence" since the Congess high command appointed Shantarambab as the new party president. Girishbab's silence is all the more deafening after his bold statement urging secular parties in the BJP-led government to topple the government, a statement which did not go down well with Shantarambab and his group, which maintained that the government will fall under its own weight. Another probable reason attributed to Girishbab's silence is the fact that while he acted as a party spokesman during Luizinhbab's tenure, he is still unaware whether Shantarambab still wants him to perform that role now. Times are indeed changing in the Congress party.
Hibernation mode
Where's Benaulim block Congress president Edwinbab Cardozo, who had unsuccessfully contested against the Varca strongman Churchillbab Alemao in the February 4 Assembly election? Well, nothing has been heard from Edwinbab since his poor showing in the Assembly election. But, many a Congressman from Benaulim must have expected the Block president to take the initiative to strengthen the party not only to take on the strongman in the future, but the growing presence of Aam Aadmi party in the minority heartland. Sources, however, said that Edwinbab has been lying low since his defeat in the husting and nothing has been heard from him post March 11. Once beaten, twice shy, so goes the saying and Edwinbab seemed to have indeed gone into hibernation post March 11. Any doubts?
