No room for Luizinho n Vijai's ‘fiefdom'!
What's Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minister, Vijaibab Sardesai up to in his home turf Xasttidom? It's an open secret that Vijaibab enjoys the best of relations with Congress Xastti bigwigs, Diggu and Reginaldbab Lourenco. And, his love-hate relationship with the Alemao's including Varca strongman Bab Churchillbab is well known. What, however, has raised many an eyebrow in Congress circles is whether the shrewd and manipulative Goa Forward Chief is on a mission to earn goodwill amongst the Congress MLAs in his backyard. A fortnight ago, he travelled to Velim as Filipe Neribab played host to him at Chinchinim on the occasion of Vanmahotsava. On friendship day last Sunday, Vijaibab was welcomed with open arms at Nuvem by local MLA Wilfredbab Babashan. And, the TCP Minister, sources said, has no axe to grind against Cuncolim MLA Clafaciobab. That leaves only outgoing state Congress president and Navelim MLA Luizinhbab Faleiro out in Vijaibab's scheme of things. Sounds interesting, isn't it?
Unfurling of tricolor falls on collector
South Goa's first woman District Collector Anjali Sherawat and not TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai will unfurl the national tricolor at the South Goa collectorate on Independence Day. Vijaibab will miss the rare privilege and honour to hoist the tricolor on August 15 enjoyed by Saxtti's lone Minister Avertanbab Furtado during the last five years, apart from former PWD Minister Churchillbab Alemao and Diggu. Reason: With the election code of conduct in force in view of the Panjim and Valpoi bye-polls, politicians have been barred from presiding over the Independence Day celebrations this time round. Vijiajbab, who had stayed from such celebrations at the District Collectorate during first term in protest against Manoharbhai's decision to inaugurate the Collectorate building by keeping the opposition in the dark in 2013, will have to wait till December 19 for his turn to unfurl the tricolor on Goa's Liberation Day.
Benjamin gets going in public life
Former Velim MLA Benjaminbab D'Silva has been maintaining low profile post March-11 when his bid to retain the Velim seat was scuttled by arch rival Filipe Neribab. Benjaminbab's office, however, has not stopped functioning since then. Neither has the former Independent MLA pulled down the office shutters nor has the number of people trickling to his office come down post March-11. His personal assistant Precopiobab Fernandes is often spotted in the District Collectorate and he has not stopped doing the rounds of the police stations of Cuncolim, Margao and Maina Curtorim having jurisdiction over Velim constituency with public grievances. Benjaminbab may be busy with his fishing business with the onset of the new fishing season, but Precopiobab and his office team are always there to attend the people and offer solutions.
Race to head Fatorda police station begins
Who will head the proposed Fatorda police station as and when it starts functioning from TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai's fiefdom Fatorda? As the GSIDC is rushing with the renovation of the abandoned police staff quarters at Arlem to complete the works right on time for the inauguration, behind the scenes activity is underway amongst some police officers to lobby hard for posting at the new police station. Speculation is rife that a police inspector attached to a traffic cell in the state is tipped to head the proposed new police station. The district police administration has already handed over a big list of staff requirements, including PSIs, ASIs, Head constables and police constables, including lady police constables, to the police top brass. Wait and watch as to who makes it to the new police station, perhaps the only police station based on political boundaries.
CID ‘reporters' at media briefings
What were the CID sleuths doing at a media briefing called by Manoharbhai Parrikar's bitter foe Congress MLA Reginaldbab Lourenco in Margao during the weekend? In fact, Reginaldbab was completely taken aback when he spotted a couple of CID sleuths amidst scribes covering his briefing.
As many as four CID sleuths were already in the conference room before Reginaldbab huffed and puffed his way onto the top floor of the building to address the media with the elevator down and out. The Curtorim MLA was repeatedly seeking to know the presence of the CID personnel for his media briefing. He apparently wasn't convinced when scribes explained him that CID sleuths do not leave a single media briefing uncovered, collecting press statements and faxing the same to their police and political bosses. Is Manoharbhai, the state's home minister, aware of the CID's presence at the media briefings?
