Normally after parties held during fashion weeks are meltingpots of Gucci and Jimmy Choos laden divas, photographers, designers, thecocktail circuit and other wannabes. At one of the parties during the IndiaResort Fashion week, Goa’s political “models” turned up looking as natty aspossible. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai held court on one table and was soonjoined by some of the young BJP lads - MLAs all. The conversation naturally turned from thebeauties of the catwalk to the beasts of politics. Whispers soon started. Wasthe wily Vijay engineering a coup? Wellnot quite, but a local paper was surely prompted to kite fly a story of a“revolt” in the BJP
Not another Coup d'état
Political Patrao had a full week tracking another freshround of toppling games in the State. Tuesday evening was unusually warm for aDecember night as news of 10 BJP MLAs with 5 indies planning a coup starteddoing the rounds. What is interesting is that while Calangute MLA Michael Lobolaughed off his being a part of the rebel 10 he did confirm having heard of theplotting games. And for a change the Chief Ministerial candidates were VijaySardessai and Mauvin Godinho. Sardessai is fine but Godinho is news. TheDabolim MLA has been eerily quiet in recent times. Grapevine tells PP that theformer Deputy Speaker who has discovered a new found bonhomie with ruling BJPalso reportedly has the backing of a handful of Congress MLAs. More surprisesin Operation Topple deux. When PP asked former Revenue Minister Jose PhilipD’Souza if his blessings were there for the toppling games considering hisbitter rivals were being rewarded. Philip smiled and asked “what has thisGovernment done till date?” The Vasco strongman apparently has no problems witheither Mauvin becoming CM and even Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida getting a Congressticket. PP wonders if this gamble is a bit too far fetched
Bhai Manohar, goes to didi land
Bhai Manohar Parrikar has made a quick trip to the land ofMamata, Kolkata for a reunion meeting of IITians. Before leaving Parrikarwanted to catch up on some elementary Bengali, so he asked Political Patrao,who met him, whether sweets were called “mishti” or “mishtaan” in Bengali. Hisaffinity for sweets and sweet curd is known. Asked if he plans to meet themercurial didi, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee he quipped ‘The onlything we have in common is our simplicity”. Oops!!
The rise of the Royalty
Vishwajeet Rane might have lost the Chief Ministerial bus inGoa and Jitendra Deshprabhu the ticket to acceptable Congresshood but the duoseem to have emerged at the most unlikely place, Hyderabad. Last week had theduo stemming the split in AP Congress over Telangana. The alarming regularitywith which out of favour Congressmen find plum postings outside the State makesPP wonder if the Congress will have any families left back in the State to takecare of their own interests.
