Many in Congress circles described AICC general secretary K Venugopal’s lunch with South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes as “lunch diplomacy” at the Chicalim fields. What many, however, do not know is that the two had already engaged in “breakfast diplomacy” at the starred resort where the senior Congress leader was staying. In fact, mystery surrounds the Venugopal-Viriato meeting and what exactly transpired between the duo before the AICC general secretary began his interactions with other Congress leaders. Any questions?
Congress eyes Southern star power for 2027 campaign
Whether or not GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai will join hands for the 2027 Assembly elections remains uncertain. One thing, however, appears increasingly evident: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay could prove to be a valuable campaigner for the Congress in the upcoming polls. This perception gained ground after Girishbab proposed to the TN CM the construction of Goa Niwas at Vailankanni. Political observers believe the outreach could also have electoral overtones. Many do not rule out the possibility of the TN CM, a Congress ally, being roped into the Congress campaign in Goa in 2027. You know why.
Mission Goa: Cong goes into assessment mode
Has the Congress high command deputed a senior leader to assess the political situation in Goa in the wake of the turmoil triggered by Amit Patkar’s removal and his replacement by Girishbab Chodankar? If sources are to be believed, the emissary has been meeting a cross-section of society, including members of the minority community and religious leaders. While the exact brief given to the senior leader remains unclear, his presence in Goa and his series of interactions have sparked considerable curiosity, both within Congress circles and beyond. Any questions?
Reginaldo plays it safe on One Nation, One Election
Guess what’s Independent MLA Reginaldbab Lourenco’s stand on the One Nation, One Election proposal being pushed by the ruling BJP? Well, scribes posed this question to the BJP coalition partner as he was one of the MLAs who appeared before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. He, however, appeared to sidestep the issue, remarking that there was little left for him to say since others had already spoken at length. He merely observed that the proposal may not be implemented in 2029 and left it at that. Interesting, isn’t it?
Yuri treads cautiously as Elvis steps up campaign
As former bureaucrat Elvisbab Gomes intensifies his campaign to contest the 2027 Assembly elections as the “people’s candidate” from Cuncolim, Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao has maintained a conspicuous silence. Whether by strategy or circumstance, neither Yuribab nor the Congress has responded to Elvisbab’s growing political movement in Cuncolim over the past week. With the former bureaucrat championing the slogan “Vocal for Local” in politics, many believe Yuri is treading cautiously. For, he knows that taking on a campaign built around local sentiment could come at a heavy electoral cost. The reason, as they say, is obvious.
