Saxtti Masala

It was a Sunday when Davondem “ a stronghold of Goa Forward party chief Vijaibab Sardesai “ played host to dhirios right under the nose of the law enforcing agencies. Vijaibab was not seen around, but Goa Forward party flags could be spotted flying at the venue, indicating that the bull fight enjoyed patronage. Vijaibab, sources said, had descended at the Cross in the fields, coinciding with the local feast, but left the venue before the bullfights took the centrestage at Davondem. Fatorda police too were conspicuous by their absence. It isn’t clear whether the presence of Goa Forward flags was a signal to the outside world that the regional party is fully behind the traditional dhirios or was it simply a message that Goa Forward rule reigned supreme in the locality.

Where’s BJP leader Damubab Naik? This question did the rounds as banners and cutouts of the former two-time Fatorda MLA extending seasons greeting went missing once again in Fatorda. While arch rival and TCP Minister Vijaibab Sardesai’s cutouts could be seen in every nook and corner of Fatorda, not a single cutout or banner of Damubab was visible around. It is a sheer coincidence that Damubab’s cutouts and banners had disappeared from Fatorda since the time arch rival Vijaibab joined hands with Manoharbhai Parrikar to form the coalition government. Sounds surprising, isn’t it.

Last week saw flamboyant former Minister Mickkybab Pacheco finally coming out of hibernation before curtains came down on 2018. Unlike in the past when Mickkybab did not lose any opportunity to take on Vijaibab and the Congress, he, however, trained his guns at arch rival, Nuvem MLA Wilfredbab D’Sa over Fredabai’s Krishi card episode and did not spare the Congress on the Nuvem dance fiasco. He even disclosed plans to knock the doors of bitter enemy Vijaibab Sardesai to initiate action against the Wilfred-Freda duo. Many a scribe was left to wonder why Mickkybab is muted in his tirade against the TCP Minister. Wait and watch.

It was a week when the MGP Lion roared in Saxttidom, with a message to the BJP than to the Congress that Goa’s oldest regional party is prepared to engage them anywhere, even in the minority-dominated taluka. MGP chief Deepakbab Dhavalikar was clear that the party will further strengthen its base in Navelim “ a constituency where the BJP has a substantial following, enough to test the electoral waters in the next Assembly election. In fact, MGP’s message to the BJP leadership that the regional party will not compromise on Navelim in the future comes at a time when local BJP leaders were bracing up to contest the next Assembly election from the constituency. Any questions?

Matka reigned supreme around the Margao Municipal Council building with the Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babitabai Prabhudesai opting for a swanky Duster car as her official vehicle.  As news of the purchase of the new official car spread within and outside the municipal building, many an enthusiastic matka player placed bets on the registration number of the new vehicle. Little, however, did they realise that the Maruti Ertiga vehicle, which was being used by the Chairperson all this time, would turn out the lucky number, leaving many an ardent matka fan disappointed. There were, however, many others, who say they will not stop playing the number of the new car till they crack the matka. Wait and watch.