Guess what finally brought Goa Congress chief Girishbab Chodankar and Goa Forward Party president Vijaibab Sardesai together for weekend discussions to take their alliance forward? Sources say the answer lies in Vijaibab’s “cockroach” remark a day earlier, when he reportedly said that people are ready to vote even in the name of a cockroach, but not necessarily for the Congress. The remark is understood to have irked Congress leaders, who conveyed their displeasure through common friends of the two leaders. Soon after, Vijaibab is believed to have called on Girishbab at his residence to send a message that the regional party remained committed to taking the alliance forward. Any questions?
Girish’s constituency choice keeps allies guessing
This may make for interesting reading. After GPCC chief Girishbab Chodankar announced his plans to contest the 2027 Assembly election, Goa Forward Party chief Vijaibab Sardesai has not stopped posing one question to the Congress leader — declare the constituency from where he intends to contest, and the regional party would take steps to support him. In reply, Girishbab has left the choice of his constituency to the High Command. Political observers have a question of their own: What if Girishbab decides to contest from Fatorda, Vijaibab’s home constituency, in 2027? Any questions?
One Opposition front, two organisational drives
Congress and Goa Forward Party leaders continue to issue statements in favour of Opposition unity. They even held a meeting over the weekend to take alliance talks forward. On the ground, however, both parties are aggressively strengthening their independent organisations by inducting new members and holding karyakarta meetings across the State. Sanguem offers a classic example. Days after the Goa Forward Party inducted Meshubab D’Costa into its fold, the Congress sprang a surprise by welcoming Satyavanbab Gaonkar into the party. Earlier this week, the Goa Forward Party also organised a workers’ convention in Canacona, inducting several new faces ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. Any questions?
Congress-AAP alliance: The missing meeting
Continuing with the alliance talks, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have, on more than one occasion, publicly expressed their commitment to forging an alliance for the 2027 Goa Assembly election. Yet, one simple question remains unanswered: Have leaders of the two parties ever met even once to discuss the alliance? For its part, the AAP had constituted a three-member committee comprising party chief Valmikibab Naik, working president Gersonbab Gomes and spokesperson Prashantbab Naik to hold alliance discussions. Did the Congress invite the AAP panel for talks? Or did the AAP reach out to the Congress? These are questions that continue to remain unanswered. Any questions?
Another year, same question on seafarers’ pension scheme
The seafaring community has a question or two for Chief Minister Pramod Sawant: Why has the pension scheme for retired seafarers and widows still not been made permanent? And is there any other government welfare scheme that continues on a temporary basis, requiring annual extensions? These questions have resurfaced after the government extended the seafarers’ pension scheme by yet another year, despite the Chief Minister’s earlier assurance that it would be made permanent. Any answers?
