Parrikar to be in saddle, no change in leadership
Has the visit of BJP senior leader Nitinbhai Gadkari helped clear doubts cast over the longevity of the Manohar Parrikar-led government? That Gadkari asserted that the coalition government would continue with Manoharbhai Parrikar at the helm should hopefully put to rest speculations within the BJP camp and the MGP. Sources in the know said the Goa Forward leadership was blunt in seeking clarification from Gadkari whether the saffron brigade is contemplating a change in leadership with Manoharbhai away in the US undergoing treatment. Gadkari, sources said, not only ruled out any leadership change, but is believed to have made it quite clear there’s no question of the government being led by Sudinbab Dhavalikar even if the MGP MLAs embrace the BJP. Any questions?
GF wary of saffron leadership issue
Reports of the saffron brigade weighing various leadership options in the event Manoharbhai is required to step down from office is being keenly watched by the coalition partners, more so the key partner, Goa Forward party. GF supremo Vijaibab Sardesai might have maintained a low profile on the leadership issue over the last one month, but the leadership of the regional party in private says the party too has kept all its options open if the saffron brigade tries to bulldoze its way on the leadership question. GF leadership in private do not stop reminding that the saffron brigade is ruling the State, purely because of initiative by party supremo Vijaibab, further reminding that the TCP Minister was instrumental in getting Manoharbhai from Delhi to head the coalition. “Don’t take us for granted,” appears GF message to political forces when political options seem flavour of the season. Any takers?
Girish, the frontrunner
AICC Secretary Girishbab Chodankar appears the cynosure of all eyes in the Congress party. The former Youth Congress chief, who was nominated by the Congress high command as the party candidate for the Panaji by-poll and later a member of Congress screening panel for Gujarat and Meghalaya, is keenly watched by friends and foes within the Congress and outside over his slow, but steady rise in the Congress organisation. With Shantarambab quitting the GPCC post, resulting in a vacancy for the top Congress slot, name of Girishbab has started doing the rounds in party circles. That’s not all. With the Congress bracing up to regain the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, don’t be surprised if Girishbab is in the reckoning for the ticket. Wait and watch.
Battle for South Goa Cong LS ticket
Will this NCP MLA, Bab Churchill manage to pull the right strings in the Congress and ensure the Congress ticket for the South Goa seat goes to daughter Valankabai? Churchillbab, sources said, is not leaving a single stone unturned and is reportedly working in his inimitable fashion, notwithstanding that he is representing NCP in the Goa Legislative Assembly. This is not the first time Churchillbab is eyeing the Congress ticket for daughter Valankabai for the South Goa seat. Last time round, Churchillbab came close to seal the ticket for Valankabai in the 2009 Lok Sabha ticket, before Reginaldbab and Taleigao strongman Babush sabotaged his plan. 2019 Lok Sabha election may be a year’s away from now, but the battle for the South Goa ticket has begun in right earnest.
Digambar on ‘secret’ mission
What was Diggu doing in Delhi when most of the party leaders had already boarded the Delhi-Goa flight to return home after attending the two-day AICC plenary session in the national capital during the weekend? Well, many an eyebrow was raised amongst many a senior party leader and the junior lot, as they tried to find out what made Diggu to stay back in the capital when they all boarded the plane for the return journey. They sought to figure out whether Diggu has stayed back to meet party central leaders as he is being perceived a strong contender for the CM’s post in the event the coalition government crumbles over the leadership issue. As it turned out, Diggu had stayed put in the national capital for a photo session with Congress President Rahul Gandhi. While others preferred to return home immediately after the session, Diggu along with other Congress workers joined the photo session scheduled the next day. How’s that?
