The ensuing National Games may come in handy for the BJP to kick off its 2024 Lok Sabha campaign when Prime Minister Narendrabai Modi descends in the State later this month. With the National Games taking place barely few months before the ensuing polls, observers say the saffron brigade is expected to go all out to capitalise on Modi’s visit to consolidate the party base ahead of the polls. That Modi will flag off the Games at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda, the heart of the South Goa seat, which the party had lost to the Congress in 2019, wait and watch how the Pramodbab Sawant government goes about capitalising on the National Games.
Sidelined Goa Forward to maintain distance from Cong for LS polls?
When the Congress-led Opposition called on Governor Sreedharan Pillai minus Goa Forward a fortnight ago, party chief Vijaibab Sardesai and other leaders were left fuming. Realisation seemed to have now dawned on the Goa Forward leadership that the Congress’ decision to sideline the party has come as a blessing in disguise. For, with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls just months away, GF leaders in private now insist that the regional party is not bound to support the Congress in the ensuing polls. On the contrary, GF leaders say Congress’ decision to sideline the party will help the party maintain equidistant from the main political players. Any takers?
Yuri, Patkar skip Sardinha’s conference, raises eyebrows
It was a week when many an eyebrow was raised in Congress circles over the absence of Opposition leader Yuribab Alemao and GPCC chief Amitbab Patkar at the media briefing by MP Francisbab Sardinha at the South district office. Scribes, who were invited to cover the briefing by MP Sardinhabab along with the Opposition leader and GPCC chief, found only senior vice-president M K Sheikh present for the briefing, leaving tongues wagging. Sources confirmed that Sardinhbab had invited the Amit-Yuri duo for the briefing along with M K Sheikh. While Amitbab skipped the briefing on the plea he is heading to Bengaluru, the Opposition leader reportedly claimed he was down with fever. What was Sardinhabab’s reaction to the absence of the Amit-Yuri duo. No prizes for the right guess.
BJP-controlled MMC completes a year, but no celebrations
The BJP-controlled Margao Municipal Council completed a year in office on Thursday, but there were neither celebrations nor jubilations within the corridors of the Municipal body or outside. Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Diggu along with civic chief Damubab Shirodkar were seen on the ring road for an inspection on Thursday. A couple of scribes, sources said, waited for Diggu and Damu for a byte in the morning, hoping the duo would shed some light on the Council’s achievements during the last one year, but in vain. Interesting, isn’t it?
After kumpar, will Churchill pen a book on Konkani agitation?
What has Varca strongman Bab Churchill got to say on the battle for Konkani and Statehood book penned by kumpar and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Luizinhbab Faleiro? Well, don’t be surprised if Churchillbab unveils plans to compile the sequence of event during the historic Konkani agitation in the mid-80s’, culminating in the government according official language status for Konkani. Churchillbab says daughter Valankabai is assisting him in coming out with the book, promising that the book will provide an insight into the historic agitation and the factors that turned the tide in favour of Konkani. Any questions?
