MARGAO MASALA

| APRIL 08, 2021, 12:34 AM IST

Another Vijai-Digambar 'jugalbandi'

Many term the Congress-Goa Forward alliance a marriage of convenience just to keep the saffron brigade at bay. And, the reason is not far too seek. Both Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai had joined hands in the 2015 MMC polls, which left the saffron brigade struggling in both Margao and Fatorda. While the duo shared power, the alliance ended when Sardesai propped up the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government in 2017. That Kamat’s group in the Civic body opposed Sardesai-ruled Council till the last is an open secret. Madgavkars and Fatordekars may want to know how and why the duo has come together again in 2021.

Political debut eludes Prabhav

Former Minister, late Babu Nayak’s grandson Prabhav will have to wait for some time to make a debut in politics. No doubt, Prabhav had knocked the doors of the Judiciary on ward reservations, but no interim relief has come from the court, leaving Prabhav with no option than to wait for an opportune time to join electoral politics. Young Prabhav with father Bhai Naik in tow had made huge presence in ward no 22, which includes a part of migrant-dominated Moti Dongor.

Digambar's son too not in the fray

If late Babu Naik’s grandson Prabhav is out of the fray on account of ward reservations, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat’s son Yogiraj is also not making his political debut in the ensuing polls. This became evident when Digambar decided to bat for former MMC Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar in ward no 18. Sources say both Ganashyam and Yogiraj had set their eyes on ward no 18 before the ward was reserved for OBC. Better sense seemed to have prevailed in the Congress camp as Kamat endorsed Ganashyam’s candidature after the ward was de-reserved post-SC verdict.

GF representation to all but one 

Goa Forward’s social engineering exercise somehow could not accommodate a member of the upper caste community as a candidate in the ensuing MMC polls. The regional party has given representation to all and sundry, including the OBCs, including Bhandari Samaj, ST community, besides a member of the Muslim and goldsmith community. Goa Forward team was quick to attribute the situation to the reservation of the Old Market-Borda ward for the OBC. Has Vijai Sardesai any answer to this peculiar situation? Wait and watch.

Damu playing to the ST gallery

BJP leader Damu Naik is apparently working on the plan to woo the powerful ST community to his side in the ensuing polls. The two-time former MLA and Chairman of Vibrant Margao has not stopped accusing rival Vijai Sardesai for his failure to give jobs to the ST community. That he roped in former Minister and ST leader Luis Alex Cardozo’s daughter Viviana in Vibrant Margao camp indicates that Damu has some plan up his sleeves to make inroads in the ST community in the ensuing polls as well as in 2022.



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