Coalition partners rejoiced
Guj win for different reason
Strange it may seem, but true that the Gujarat Assembly election results seemed to have been welcomed by all and sundry in Goa -- be it the ruling BJP, the opposition Congress and the coalition partners as well. While Manoharbhai Parrikar and his party rank and file went to the town to celebrate the victory, Congressmen were equally enthused over the result, expressing satisfaction over the party's performance in Narendrabhai Modi's backyard, considered a saffron laboratory. The biggest surprise came when even the coalition partners supporting the ruling dispensation welcomed the Gujarat election result. But, hold on. They rejoiced over the victory for a different reason. Believe it or not, a prominent member of the coalition government heaved a sigh of relief, saying a huge victory in Gujarat would have emboldened the ruling party and undermined the alliance partners. How's that?
Damu gets into celebration mode
When the saffron brigade edged the Congress in a hotly contested battle of the ballot in Gujarat, the echo was felt in Fatorda - TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai's fiefdom. Vijaibab was holed up in the Legislative Assembly when arch rival and two-time BJP MLA Damubab Naik and members of the saffron brigade descended at the Lord Dambab Linga near the Nehru stadium to celebrate the Gujarat victory. BJP members were seen offering sweets to the former MLA amidst bursting of firecrackers for quite some time, making one wonder whether the sound of the fire crackers had any echo on the Davondem bandh - the residence of the TCP minister. This is perhaps the first time that Damubab and the saffron brigade went in a celebration mode in Fatorda - months after rival Vijaibab propped up the Manoharbhai government post-March 11. Sounds interesting, isn't it?
Will Girish cross the last hurdle?
What does the Gujarat Assembly elections mean for AICC secretary and Goa's very own Girishbab Chodankar, who was Rahul Gandhi's chosen few nominated on the Gujarat Congress candidate screening panel? Well, a satisfied Girishbab has returned home and has resumed his duties at the higher secondary school. But, the question doing the rounds within Congress circles and outside is simple: Will the former Youth Congress chief make it to the coveted post of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee coveted president post Gujarat-poll and with Rahulji donning the Congress party mantle? Sources say Girishbab has already struck the right chord in the Congress scheme of things in Delhi. But, the question that remains unanswered is whether Girishbab will manage to cross the last hurdle, by mustering the support of the Congress MLAs back in Goa. Answer to this question will emerge in a month or two.
When Vijai, Reginaldo crossed swords
They have been comrades in arms over the years and had together taken on their common political enemies in Saxttidom -- be they Franciscbab Sardinha or Luizinhbab Faleiro. So, when the TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai and vocal opposition leader Reginaldbab Lourenco crossed swords against each other in the Legislative Assembly in the just concluded session, the echo was felt in Saxttidom. Common friends of the two Legislators were anxiously trying to find out what suddenly went wrong between the two Saxtti MLAs. As it has turned out, Vijaibab did not take things lying down when Reginaldbab pointed to some landfilling at Mandrem and in turn demanded to know from the Curtorim MLA who's involved in the development and selling of plots near the Leprosy hospital in his backyard. Will Reginaldbab take things lying down?
What's cooking in Vijai camp?
Outgoing Rajya Sabha MP and State Congress president, Shantarambab Naik was conspicuous by his absence when the Fatorda CCTV project under his MPLAD scheme was launched in Fatorda on Goa Liberation Day. TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai took no time to shower praises on Shantarambab, but in the same vein said the former Rajya Sabha MP might have skipped the programme due to political compulsions as the former MP now presides over the affairs of the Goa Congress. Vijaibab's remarks may not be entirely out of context, especially in the light of complaints lodged with none other than the Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi, against Shantarambab by a section of Congressmen for sanctioning the CCTV project for Fatorda. You may read between the lines as Shantarambab's son Ankeet made it for the function and was greeted with a bouquet of flowers by Vijaibab.
