Parrikar woos Saxttikars with EDC schemes
Manoharbhai Parrikar appeared in a jovial mood when he descended in Saxttidom earlier this week. Perfectly aware that he is right down in the minority heartland to inaugurate the EDC unit, Manoharbhai tried to figure out from EDC officials whether they have any particular project or activity in mind, tailor-made for the people of Saxttidom. For a moment, the EDC officials began to grope in the dark and finally they came out with a reply, saying that schemes are available for anyone buying office space, including professionals. Given that there’s a heavy rush for passports from Saxttidom to travel abroad for the purpose of employment, Manoharbhai in a lighter vein pointed out that those facilitating passports can avail of the scheme benefits, evoking laughter from those around, including Vijaibab Sardesai and Sidharthbab Kuncolienkar.
Will Vijai’s movement lose steam yet again?
TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai may have a full year at his disposal to honour his promise to install late Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the Goa Legislative Assembly. People from Saxttidom, however, may have a question or two for the TCP Minister “ whether he will be able to honour his promise or will he come a cropper a la the Mopa airport. In his first stint as Fatorda MLA, it was Vijaibab who led the movement on behalf of Saxttikars to oppose the proposed airport at Mopa. He even held a couple of meetings in Saxttidom in support of Dabolim only, before his movement lost steam and crash landed midway. Five years later, Vijaibab now faces a similar predicament. Wait and watch as his alliance partners appeared in no mood to concede his demand for the installation of late Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue. Will Manoharbhai bail him out of the situation as the Fatorda MLA was instrumental in ensuring his return from Delhi almost a year ago. Wait and watch.
Durgadas to get into a new role
What role would Durgadasbab Kamat play in the Goa Forward party after he was asked to resign from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Fisheries Minister Vinodabab Paliencar? Well, Durgadasbab has finally put in his papers on the last day of January as per the fiat issued by Goa Forward party supremo Vijaibab Sardesai. Unlike a year ago, when the party had drafted Durgadasbab to Siolim to strengthen Vinodabab’s election campaign, the party isn’t going to send him back to Siolim for the simple reason that a section of party workers could not gel well with the local MLA’s ex-OSD. Vijaibab had a week ago told the media that he has asked both Durgadasbab and Dilipbab to resign as OSDs for the simple reason that the party intends to draft them to the work of strengthening the party. Will Durgasbab be based in Panaji, Margao or Ponda is a question doing the rounds in Goa Forward circles. Any questions?
Joaquim eyes ‘Goa Forward’ in Cuncolim
Former Cuncolim MLA Joaquimbab Alemao has sounded his return to Cuncolim when he took up cudgels for the people of Cuncolim apprehensive of the Cuncolim bypass earlier this week. That Joaquimbab was finally bracing up to return to Cuncolim was evident by the fact when son Yuri was one of the prominent faces seated in the audience at the Goa Forward party’s Opinion Poll Day celebrations at the Lohia Maidan last month. And, it was but natural that Joaquimbab took the people to Cuncolim to none other than his close friend and Goa Forward supremo Vijaibab Sardesai in a bid to resolve the Cuncolim bypass issue. It is an open secret that Vijaibab and Joaquimbab share close rapport and it may not be out of place to suggest that Vijaibab may look forward to his close friend and son to take the Goa Forward in Cuncolim. Any questions?
Pratima on ‘Mission Expose’
What’s the next issue lining up on the agenda of Goa Mahila Congress chief, Pratimabai Coutinho? Well, Pratimabai along with her band of dedicated foot soldiers has been on a mission against the saffron brigade, trying to expose the ruling dispensation for its various sins of omission and commission. Manoharbhai Parrikar may have dismissed the ongoing Mahila Congress campaign as a publicity stunt, or that matter, Vijaibab Sardesai, who even went to the extent of saying that the Mahila Congress agitation is nothing by a stunt on the eve of the filling of vacancies in the Congress party. Even Congress leaders in private admit that credit goes to Pratimabai, Savitribai Kavlekar, Binabai Naik and others for their sustained campaign on issues, right from river nationalisation to coal transportation, Mhadei, GST on sanitary pads and coconuts. Any questions?
