It’s July 9. It was on this very day in 2019, that 10 Congress MLAs had split to embrace the saffron brigade. Exactly three years down the lane, the same question did the rounds in Congress circles and outside during the weekend “ will the Congress MLAs manage to cobble up the two third numbers to quit the party and join the BJP. Well, speculations were rife that a section of the Congress MLAs were on the job to form a two-third group. The flurry of political activity has come to light after two of the potential Congress MLAs returned from the national capital. Wait and watch.
Acid test for Cong legislators
Phones of some of the Congress MLAs, especially first time MLAs from down South, sources said, did not stop ringing in the wee hours of Saturday. If sources are to be believed, not only calls were coming from MLAs anxious to quit the Congress, but from businessmen as well. So much so, mobile phones of a couple of MLAs, who have time and again, went to the town saying they will not abandon the party, were found switched off by noon, sending a signal they will stay put with the Congress. What exactly was in the Congress camp since midnight? Wait and watch.
Vijai wary of happenings in Cong camp
Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai was believed to have casually tried to figure out from CM Pramodbab Sawant at a function in down South on Saturday whether there’s any truth in the speculations doing the rounds of the imminent defection in the Congress. Vijaibab told his aides that Pramodbab is reported to have downplayed the issue, as he just laughed away at the query. In fact, with a host of Ministers attending the programme, the defection of the Congress MLAs was the talking point amongst the politicos. Any questions?
Pledge video goes viral on social media
Even before the imminent defection of Congress MLAs could materialise, a video showing the Congress candidates taking pledge at the Mahalaxmi Temple and the Holy Cross Bambolim on the eve of the 2022 polls that they will not leave the party, went viral on the social media. Angry reactions came from various quarters, with citizens left to wonder whether the MLAs are now out to cheat the Gods and Goddesses after cheating the people all these years. Indeed a time for introspection.
Father asserts son Yuri firm in Cong
As speculation did the rounds over the exit of Congress MLAs, Congress veteran Joaquimbab Alemao asserted that son Yuribab Alemao would stay put with the Congress. The former Minister recalled that he had spurned all offers in the past to switch sides during his stint as MLA, exuding confidence that son Yuri will never defect from the Congress. For a moment, the Congress camp may heave a sigh of relief as Yuri has again refused to join the rebel MLA group. Wait and watch.
When ex-Cabinet colleagues met, shook hands
It was a week when former Ministers in the Digambar Kamat Cabinet, Dayanand Narvekar and Mickky Pacheco happened to meet in Saxttidom. The duo had matters at the Margao Civil and Criminal Court on Friday in connection with the fake cricket case and the casino extortion case. No sooner had Mickky helloed Daya while leaving the courtroom, Narvekar went out to shake hands with his one-time Cabinet colleague. Both Daya and Mickky were forced to quit the Kamat Cabinet over criminal cases. A decade later, Daya stands acquitted of the charges in the alleged cricket ticket case. Any questions?
Luizinho preoccupied with Parl session?
Where’s TMC leader Luizinhbab Faleiro? Indeed, nothing has been heard from the Goa-based TMC Rajya Sabha MP from Bengal. Sources, however, say the former Chief Minister is busy preoccupied with the Parliament session, starting from mid-July. If sources are to be believed, Luizinhbab has sent 24 questions to the Lok Sabha Secretariat till date. Take note, all the questions put up by the MP from Bengal are 100 per cent Goa centric. Wait and watch.
