As the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders brace for alliance talks, questions are being raised in Saxtti political circles about how Congress would approach the Velim seat, currently represented by AAP MLA Cruzbab Silva. Reason: AAP is expected to insist on retaining Velim if a seat-sharing pact is eventually worked out between the two parties. That, however, raises questions within the Congress camp: where would that leave Congress MLA Altonbab D’Costa, who has set his sights on Velim if ST political reservation is implemented for the coming election? And what about Congress leader Saviobab D’Silva, who has kept the party flag flying high in Velim over the last four-and-a-half years? Questions indeed remain unanswered.
Elvis’ bid complicates Cong’s equation in Cuncolim
What has Congress president Girishbab Chodankar got to say about the decision of Congress leader and former bureaucrat Elvisbab Gomes to contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Cuncolim, the constituency represented by Opposition Leader Yuribab Alemao? The question assumes significance given that the Girish-Elvis duo share a close rapport. Even when Girishbab was handling Congress affairs outside Goa, Elvisibab was among the few vocal voices in the party to take on the Amit–Yuri duo, which was then calling the shots in the party. How will Girishbab handle the Cuncolim conundrum, with Elvis unwilling to back down and Yuribab Alemao already holding the seat for Congress? Wait and watch how Girishbab finds a solution to the Cuncolim imbroglio.
Congress Bhavan debate revives Aleixo factor
As the BJP prepares to inaugurate an imposing office building, raising questions over Congress’ plans for a similar facility, Congress-turned-BJP MLA Aleixobab Sequeira has become a talking point within Congress circles and beyond. For, if the Congress party can boast of spacious offices in North and South Goa, sources say the heavyweight politician had a hand in arranging the two premises during his tenure as Power Minister in the Digambar Kamat government. Congressmen, in private, point out that while many politicians reached top positions, courtesy the Congress party, hardly any of them contributed their might towards acquiring office space for a Congress Bhavan. Any questions?
Salcete’s defector trio keeps poll plans alive
Who among the 2019 Congress defectors from Salcete are planning to contest the upcoming Assembly polls is another question doing the rounds in Saxtti political circles. If sources are to be believed, former Velim MLA and Minister Filipe Neribab Rodrigues, former Nuvem MLA Wilfred, aka Babashan, and former Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias are all gearing up for the 2027 electoral battle.
Of the trio, Filipe Neribab and Babashan have, on more than one occasion, expressed their intentions to contest the coming polls. Clafaciobab, on the other hand, remains with the BJP, and it is still unclear whether he will contest the polls on the BJP banner, choose another party platform, or extend support to a candidate of his choice in Cuncolim. Wait and watch.
Goa Forward chief’s Kushavati tour raises political questions
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai kick-starting his tour of the constituencies falling under Kushavati district on Saturday.
Why Kushavati district? That is the question being asked in political circles as Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai kick-started his 2027 election campaign from Sanvordem during the weekend. Vijaibab and his team embarked on a day-long tour of each of the five constituencies ahead of the Assembly election. The moot question, however, remains unanswered: why Kushavati and not North or South Goa? Is it a calculated political strategy to kick-start the campaign in a district where the BJP represents four of the five Assembly constituencies, with Quepem being the lone exception? And does the Congress leadership have anything to say about the Goa Forward’s Kushavati tour? Wait and watch.
