As Home Minister Amit Shah is set to launch BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign on Sunday, observers say the public meeting venue at Ponda shows party’s anxiety to pocket both the seats in next year’s election. Ponda is significant is more than one way. Three out of four Assembly segments of Ponda fall in South Goa, while Priol is part of North Goa Lok Sabha constituency. Ponda is also connected to the hinterland talukas of both North and South Lok Sabha seats, indicating the party’s intention to further strengthen its hold over its traditional voter base before the battle. Any takers?
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Congress unsure whether to bank on
veteran or field a younger contender
The Congress camp must be closely watching the hectic activities in the rival BJP camp ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s Sunday visit. Party South Goa MP Francisbab Sardinha celebrated his birthday on Saturday at his Curtorim residence with family members and supporters. The Congress, however, isn’t clear whether the party would continue to bank on veteran Sardinhbab or will bet on a young horse to retain the South Goa seat. On paper, South Goa seat has been the stronghold of the Congress with the Lotus blooming once twice. Even a diehard and loyal Congressman in private will concede that the party faces a challenge of sorts in 2024.
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Girish visits Cong House but do the
younger leaders feel his absence?
It was a week when ex-GPCC Chief Girishbab Chodankar made his presence felt at the Congress House, perhaps the first time in recent months, post-2022 Assembly poll debacle. Sources informed that Congress Goa desk in-charge, Manekan Tagore invited Girishbab to the office during his visit to Goa. It could, however, not be ascertained whether Girishbab gelled well with the current young party leadership led by Amitbab Patkar. Wait and watch as the present leadership and Girishbab do not see eye to eye over a host of issues.
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No clarity on whether Vijai played
host to WRD Minister in Fatorda
The weekend saw Water Resources department Minister Subhashbab Shirodkar descending at Goa Forward Chief Vijaibab Sardesai’s fiefdom Fatorda to launch water resources works in the constituency. The saffron brigade, however, has been trying to figure out whether Subhashbab has only laid the foundation stone for the project, or had descended on the Dovondem bandh, Vijaibab’s office-cum-residence. It isn’t clear whether Vijaibab played a perfect host to the WRD Minister at his residence . Wait and watch.
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Venzybab talk of political change aimed
at the contest for both Lok Sabha seats
Aam Admi Party's Benaulim MLA Venzybab’s plea to the people to bring about a political change makes interesting reading. Venzybab highlighted the performance of party-led governments in Delhi and Punjab and the need to replicate the success story in Goa. What, however, has raised eyebrows in political circles is that the Assembly elections are still four years away. The talk of change in government has only left observers to wonder about the intention behind Venzybab’s statement, and whether it has something to do with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls where AAP is bracing up to contest both the seats. Any questions?
