Guess how and who managed to bring leaders of the Congress, Goa Forward, and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) on a common platform at Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai’s Narkasura competition last Sunday — setting the stage for a new narrative of opposition unity? Host Sardesai was clearly looking to give the traditional competition a political edge and send out a message from the festive platform. Sources said Vijaibab had initially planned to invite RGP chief Manojbab Parab for the grand event. Although Manojbab had accepted the invitation, there were doubts about his attendance due to a brief illness. Not taking any chances, Sardesai extended invitations to Congress leaders — including MLAs and former AAP leader Rajeshbab Kalangutkar. As it turned out, not only did the Congress MLAs attend, but so did the RGP chief and Rajeshbab, making it a rare moment when prominent opposition leaders shared the same stage. Any questions?
Unity or optics? Oppn’s Fatorda ‘get-together’ raises questions
Opposition leaders coming together in Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai’s political stronghold is not entirely unusual for seasoned observers. But as many in local political circles know, a photo-op does not always translate into real unity. Politics, after all, is dynamic — not static. If sources are to be believed, several leaders who had once stood together on Fatorda grounds in the name of opposition unity have since switched sides, some even joining the ruling BJP. Will this latest show of solidarity among the Congress, Goa Forward, and RGP translate into genuine opposition unity ahead of the upcoming polls? Wait and watch.
Yuri’s unity note leaves Opposition guessing
As opposition leaders struck unity notes on the SGPDA grounds last Sunday during Vijaibab Sardesai’s Narkasura competition, Leader of the Opposition Yuribab Alemao made a striking appeal — urging “leaders” to quit their respective parties and join forces with the opposition. Now that the music and fireworks have faded, political observers are left dissecting Yuribab’s message. Who exactly was he addressing? Was it aimed at leaders from the local Aam Aadmi Party unit — or perhaps someone from the ruling dispensation? The questions remain unanswered.
Tawadkar reveals he feared losing Art & Culture to Kamat
Was there ever any doubt about who would bag the coveted Art and Culture portfolio before Chief Minister Pramodbab Sawant handed it over to Minister Rameshbab Tawadkar? Interestingly, Tawadkar himself admitted that he had his doubts. His concern stemmed from the fact that former CM Digambarbab Kamat, inducted into the Cabinet alongside him, had previously held the same portfolio during his tenure as Chief Minister. Given that background, Rameshbab had every reason to suspect the Art and Culture department might go to the Margao MLA instead before CM Pramodbab felt he was the right choice. Any questions?
Status quo prevails, but ZP polls loom large for Congress chiefs
Is the leadership crisis facing the Congress party finally over? Sources say the High Command may have decided to maintain the status quo — at least until the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections scheduled for December. This decision is likely to pose a challenge for GPCC chief Amitbab Patkar and Leader of the Opposition Yuribab Alemao, who will need to prove their mettle in the polls and attempt to at least reclaim the South Goa Zilla Panchayat seat. In the previous ZP elections, the Congress had performed poorly, managing to win only a couple of seats across both the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayat bodies.
