The manner in which Chief Minister Pramodbab Sawant is crisscrossing the State for campaigning ahead of Saturday’s Zilla Panchayat polls suggests one clear thing — he is working with a definite agenda and purpose: to retain both the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayat seats. The reason is not far to seek. At a time when the government has come under fire from all quarters — more so from the national media over the Arpora fire tragedy — sources say the Chief Minister is keen to prove a point or two to his detractors, both within the party and outside it, by holding on to the two ZP seats. You know why.
Leadership battle in Congress may hinge on ZP results
There’s a buzz in Congress circles that the Zilla Panchayat poll results may have a bearing on the party’s leadership. Questions are being raised within the party on how the leadership issue will unfold in the Congress post-ZP results. This assumes significance against the backdrop of a bitter battle for supremacy between the GPCC and the Congress Legislature Party, particularly over candidate selection and alliances with like-minded parties.
Congress leaders sceptical ZP verdict will change leadership
Even as political circles speculate over the Congress leadership issue post-ZP results, Congress leaders in the know wonder whether the outcome will really have any bearing on the party’s leadership. Their reasoning is simple: the Congress had faced an electoral debacle in the 2020 Zilla Panchayat polls, winning just about four seats — three in Salcete and one in North Goa — out of 50. Yet, they recall, the party High Command initiated no action whatsoever against either the then party president or the Congress CLP leader. Any questions?
Delhi visit fuels speculation over Digambar’s next move
This one may make for interesting reading. PWD Minister Digambarbab Kamat appeared to be on the move during his recent visit to the national capital, calling on several key Union Ministers. Apart from meeting Prime Minister Narendrabai Modi along with family members, Digambarbab also called on a host of Union Ministers, with son Yogiraj in tow. His social media posts confirm that these meetings did take place. So, what was the purpose behind the visit? When the media posed this question to Digambarbab after he unfurled the Tricolour on Goa Liberation Day, the PWD Minister said he would share details of his engagements with Union Ministers at a media briefing next week. Any questions?
Kamat-Lourenco moment draws attention at Liberation Day event
PWD Minister Digambarbab Kamat and Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldbab Lourenco were the cynosure of all eyes at the Goa Liberation Day programme in Margao on Friday. And for good reason. Reginaldbab, an alliance partner of the BJP-led coalition, was seen seated alongside the PWD Minister at the event. More tellingly, he was observed leaning in and lending a keen ear as Digambarbab engaged him in what appeared to be an intimate and animated conversation. Scribes covering the Liberation Day programme were quick on the job, to figure out the nature of the discussion between the two Saxtti politicians — leaders who, it may be recalled, did not see eye to eye during their days in the Congress. Any takers?
