One reason cited by Congress leaders and well-wishers while batting for the Diggu-Girish duo to go to the 2022 polls as Opposition leader and GPCC chief respectively was that the minority vote bank is now restricted to handful of seats in Salcete. In the bargain, the party, which banked heavily on the minorities to form many a government, had no minority face to lead the party in 2022. The result was there for all to see. Ahead of the 2024 LS polls, a group within the Congress is lobbying that the South Goa ticket be given to a candidate hailing from the majority community on the plea the constituency is now no more minority dominated. Wait and watch.
Is anti-Patkar group working on dislodging Cong chief?
Anti-GPCC chief Amitbab Patkar’s group seems to be actively working on a two-point strategy, aimed at dislodging the incumbent Congress chief and deny South Goa MP Francisbab Sardinha the 2024 Lok Sabha ticket. If sources are to be believed, this group has proposed Sardinhbab to head the party on grounds the MP is now the senior-most Congress leader. The rival Congress camp, however, sees red. They say Sardinhbab’s name for the Party chief is being proposed in a bid to kill two birds with a single stone “ to dislodge Amitbab Patkar from the GPCC position and rule out Sardinhbab for the 2024 LS ticket on the one man, one post norm. Any takers?
When Cong turncoats huddled around CM at b’day celebration
It’s a sheer coincidence that when Chief Minister Pramodbab Sawant was cutting his birthday cake on his 50th birthday, Congress turncoats were prominently seen all around the CM. Heavyweights Margao MLA Diggu, Aleixobab Sequeira, Michaelbab Lobo and not to mention Sankalpbab Amonkar were amongst the prominent faces huddled around Pramodbab. The presence of these turncoats has only left tongues wagging whether the promised Cabinet berths for these heavyweights is finally in the offing. Wait and watch who amongst the heavyweights will be inducted in Pramod Sawant Cabinet.
All eyes on Churchill as he praises BJP and Modi
When Varca strongman Bab Churchill addressed the media earlier this week to take on MP Sardinhbab and Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai, he kept repeating one thing “ that he has till date not joined the BJP, but will announce such a decision if he intends to embrace the saffron brigade. That Churchillbab repeatedly told the scribes that he would announce his decision, if any, to join the BJP, has only fueled speculations whether he has any plans up his sleeves ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He has gone to the town praising PM Narendra Modi for ushering in peace in the country, and is believed to have received an invite from the BJP for PM Modi’s 100th Maan ki Baat episode on Sunday. Any takers?
Leaders receive intimation from Tagore’s office, questions galore
It’s a strange coincidence that when Congress Goa observer Manickam Tagore fixed a meeting with Goa Pradesh Congress leaders and workers a fortnight ago, many had received a message directly from Tagore’s office. In fact, a couple of party leaders received the meeting intimation from Tagore’s office, throwing up a host of questions. One, whether these leaders had complained to Tagore that they receive no intimations from the party unit on important matters or simply that the observer went out of the way to placate local leaders seen as hostile to the dispensation. Wait and watch.
