While the BJP has accommodated all its leaders on plumpostings, there is one man who has been left in the cold “ BJP’s lone SalceteMLA and face of the BJP in South Goa Damu Naik. His loss at Fatorda toIndependent Vijai Sardessai seems to have left him out of BJP’s scheme ofthings. After getting petty postings as Ravindra Bhavan Chairman and GSUDA ViceChairman, Damu has been told to concentrate on Margao’s traffic chaos. A targetof building three multi-storey parking projects had also been assigned to himwith no pressure to win back Fatorda. All eyes were on Damu to bag the PartyPresident’s post, but again the party advised Damu to pull back and electedVinay Tendulkar as party president unopposed. Political Patrao wonders what theonce Southern firebrand Damu will target next, a Lok Sabha ticket or an imageboost to bounce back before Assembly Polls 2017 or will he settle to take-onDigambar Kamat in Margao?
Two to tango
That Salcette is the in-thing for BJP has been known aroundfor some time. But when MGP too finds it the same, it surely is news. Jostledby crowds of supporters at Mickky Pacheco’s birthday, Political Patrao wonderedwhy MGP MLAs Deepak Dhavlikar and Lavoo Mamledar were falling over each otherto point out that giant killer Mickky, who has put Congress heavyweights likeAleixo Sequeira and Churchill Alemao on the mat, will bring 12 MLAs under hisGoa Vikas Party banner in the next assembly polls. Is the Dhavlikar's brothers’new found faith in Mickky’s ability to form a coalition, with an eye on theCM’s post in the future?
Look who is scared of Mickky
Mickky 12-12-12 will be remembered for many an honest confessionand a hilarious confession. The dampener was Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’sbear hug and warm wishes, but no announcements of the plum Chairman's positionof a Coastal Zone Development Corporation. Mickky praised Lyndon for being atrue friend in good and bad times. Mickky’s casual admission of making mistakeswas a déjà vu moment for a man who is loved and loathed alike. But the joke was when Parsekar, at the publicfunction on Betalbatim grounds, pointed out that he was always afraid of comingclose to Mickky for the clothes he wears and his attitude he exudes in hispolitical career of 12 years.
And who got rewarded on Mickky’s birthday?
The biggest beneficiary of Mickky’s birthday celebrationsand Manohar Parrikar’s birthday visit to Margao, is none other than BJP GeneralSecretary Narendra Sawaikar. Sawaikar, who has been quietly making inroads intothe Catholic heartland, first during the late Cortalim MLA Mathany Saldanha’sfuneral and on every visible occasion has his sights set on BJP’s Mission 2014.But BJP’s history may deter Sawaikar. The BJP has never given both their MPaspirants Ramakant Angle and Wilfred Mesquita, a party ticket a second timeafter their losses in the Lok Sabha polls. If history repeats itself, thelosing Lok Sabha candidate of 2009, Sawaikar, may just be pipped at the post byBJP’s Salcete strongman Damu Naik for the Lok Sabha Elections
