Will the Congress and the Goa Forward Party return to the negotiating table after the two sides spoke about a grand alliance of opposition parties to fight the 2027 Assembly election? For the moment, however, nothing appears to be on the cards, with the Congress preoccupied with the Goy Rakhonn Yatra. Congress sources, meanwhile, have sought clarity on whether the Goa Forward Party has revoked its decision to suspend all alliance talks with the principal opposition party. The key question now is whether the regional party will lift the suspension and return to the negotiating table. Wait and watch.
Yuri and Altone take centre stage in Goy Rakhonn Yatra
As the Goy Rakhonn Yatra makes its way through North Goa, Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao and Quepem MLA Altonbab D’Costa appear to be playing a key role in ensuring that the exercise ends in success. For, if sources are to be believed, the duo is playing a crucial role in mobilising resources, be it manpower or money, for the yatra. Promos doing the rounds on social media indeed suggest that the Opposition leader is being projected as the face of the yatra. Wait and watch as the yatra will culminate in Yuribab’s Cuncolim constituency on October 18.
Hospicio bed crunch revives Kamat’s expansion vision
What does the chief architect of the Hospicio South Goa District Hospital, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, have to say about the bed shortage plaguing the hospital? Well, the district hospital project was sanctioned by Digambarbab during his stint as Chief Minister under the Congress regime. After seeing the plight of patients sharing beds at the Old Hospicio, the former CM had insisted that the new hospital building be designed not merely to accommodate 500 patients, but to cater to all future requirements. Will the government now open the remaining two floors and provide relief to the beleaguered patients? Only time will tell.
EVM row brings Churchill’s old campaign back into focus
As EVMs and SIRs remain entangled in a controversy of sorts, with Opposition political parties demanding a return to ballot papers, Varca strongman Bab Churchill appears to be watching the developments closely from the sidelines. Churchillbab recalls that when he had first raised concerns over EVMs following the defeat of the Alemao family in the 2012 Assembly election, not many took him seriously. In fact, he says, many even described him as ignorant and uneducated for raising the issue of possible EVM manipulation. Today, he appears to be watching as the “educated and wise” take up an issue that, according to him, was first flagged by an “ignorant” man nearly a decade and a half ago. Any questions?
Curtorim’s Cong candidate choice remains unclear
With the 2027 Assembly elections just five months away, the Curtorim Assembly constituency has come under the lens of political observers, but for a different reason — how the Congress will go about selecting its candidate for the seat. Congress leader Morenobab Rebello has been holding the fort for the party in the constituency, taking up local issues despite his defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections. On the other hand, senior Congress leader Franciscbab Sardinha had represented Curtorim many times in the past. While Independent MLA Reginaldbab Lourenco is gearing up to seek re-election from Curtorim, there’s still no clarity who the Congress will field from the constituency. Any questions?
