The Goa Congress Party’s “trailer” appears to have caught everyone’s attention —from the Congress and the BJP to the non-BJP parties advocating opposition unity. The Congress has used every weapon in its arsenal to discredit the new outfit, even branding it a BJP-sponsored party. With no mainstream politician associated with the new formation so far, political circles have been left guessing about its leadership and agenda. Wait and watch as the full picture unfolds after the party secures clearance from the Election Commission.
Churchill’s Delhi outreach fuels talk of daughter’s Navelim ticket
When the Congress inducted activist Pratimabai Coutinho into its fold earlier this week, Varca strongman Bab Churchill Alemao was in the national capital. After paying courtesy visits to GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and later Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge last month, Churchillbab appeared to have stepped up efforts to secure the Congress ticket for his daughter, Valanka Alemao, from Navelim. Although Churchillbab has since returned to Goa, he has chosen to keep the details of his Delhi visit close to his chest—for now. Wait and watch.
Navelim MLA eyes repeat of 2022 Opposition split
Navelim BJP MLA Ulhasbab Tuenkar appears to be closely monitoring the political developments within the Congress in his home constituency. The reason is not difficult to understand. More than anyone else, Ulhasbab knows how the ongoing tussle within the opposition over ticket claims could work to his political advantage. After all, the BJP created history in Navelim in 2022 when the Lotus bloomed for the first time, aided by a five-way split in the non-BJP vote. Incidentally, Ulhasbab remains unbeaten in his three-decade-long political career, having won three panchayat elections, two Zilla Panchayat polls, and the 2022 Assembly election. Any takers?
Elvis move turns Cuncolim into Congress turf war
It’s now official. The battle for Cuncolim, represented by Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao, is shaping up to be a Congress-versus-Congress contest. A group of citizens under the banner Amcho Munis, Amcho Maan has resolved to field Congress leader and former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes against Yuribab. When Elvisbab contested the Assembly election in 2017, he secured a sizeable vote share despite losing the contest. Interestingly, former Minister and Yuribab’s father, Joaquim Alemao, who had entered the fray as an Independent, also suffered defeat that year. The saffron brigade is watching these developments within the Congress with keen interest. Wait and watch.
Congress faces Coutinho conundrum in Salcete
With Pratimabai Coutinho formally joining the Congress party, a question is doing the rounds around Saxtti countryside: how will the Congress leadership handle the ticket claims of Pratimabai in Navelim and her husband, Saviobab Coutinho, in neighbouring Margao? Saviobab has, for years, kept the Congress flag flying high in Margao, taking on the might of the saffron brigade with his band of dedicated supporters. The latest political development has only added to the intrigue, raising several questions in political circles. Will the Congress field Pratimabai from Navelim and Saviobab from Margao? Or, will the party back one while asking the other to step aside? Or will neither of their claims find favour with the Congress leadership? Wait and watch.
