All eyes on May 16
The countdown has finally begun for counting of votes on May 16. Just four days to go and candidates and party poll managers are indeed keeping their fingers crossed over the outcome. Though they put up a brave face, exuding confidence of a victory, the huge turnout of silent vote has indeed given them sleepless nights post April 12. Amongst the lot, Manoharbhai appeared a confident lot. BJP victory in South Goa, he says, is a foregone conclusion. And the only question that remains unanswered is the margin. But sources in the know said the BJP top brass is in a confused state of mind. It is learnt that one of the leaders even pulled up cops for their failure to gather accurate feedback from the ground. On the other hand, Congress’ Reginaldbab and his poll manager Vijaibab believe the game is not over yet. They pin their hope on the silent votes to turn the tide not only against the saffron brigade, but against the saboteurs in the party. Incidentally, Churchillbab says that he may emerge a dark horse and is not ready to believe that he may end up polling 20,000 votes. Returning home after a pilgrimage to Vailankani, the Varca strongman has told his friends that it would be better to call it a day in politics if he fails to garner minimum 40,000 votes. The figure may not help him win the seat, but he is aware that polling 40,000 votes should be more than enough to spell doom for the Congress, his bête noire Reginaldbab and friend-turned-foe Vijaibab.
Grand birthday bash
Saturday saw former Cuncolim MLA Joaquimbab throwing a lavish birthday bash at a starred hotel at Mobor on the occasion of daughter Nadezhdabai’s 21st birthday. Joaquimbab, sources said, played a perfect host to his esteemed guests, ranging from politicos to close friends and supporters alike. Amongst the politicos, who were conspicuous by their presence were former Ministers Ravibab and Sequeirabab. Bollywood producer, Xavier Marqueisbab, a common friend of Joaquimbab and Vijaibab, also flew down to Goa for the celebration. Independent MLA Vijaibab too made his presence felt at the bash taking many a guest by surprise. It is learnt that Vijaibab had planned to skip the birthday celebration as he sent a flower bouquet to Nadezhdabai in the morning, leaving Joaquimbab fuming. The former Cuncolim MLA is believed to have immediately called up Marqueisbab to complain against Vijaibab. Joaquimbb is believed to have told the Bollywood producer how he had stood by Vijaibab when he was denied the Congress ticket for Fatorda. Vijaibab apparently changed his mind at the eleventh hour after receiving a piece of advice from Marqueisbab as he made his presence felt in the starred hotel later in the evening. Sources say the Independent MLA was planning to skip the birthday celebration for the simple reason that his presence should not send a wrong message to his new friends within and outside the Congress that he still enjoys close ties with the Alemaos – more so at a time when the party leadership is contemplating action against the Alemaos for anti-party activities.
New found friendship
Manoharbhai took some time off last week to be with his new ally, Goa Vikas Party supremo Mickkybab, as the CM made his presence in Xaxtidom for the first time, post-Lok Sabha poll. That Manoharbhai has found time to preside over a football final at Nagoa in Mickkybab’s fiefdom indicates the new-found love and friendship between him and the GVP supremo. During the last two years of his regime, Manoharbhai was often found travelling to Navelim or Velim without making a halt at Nuvem, to be with Avertanbab and Benjaminbab. Supporters of the flamboyant Nuvem MLA in private say the saffron brigade is very much impressed by Mickkybab’s work for Narendrabhai in the April 12 Lok Sabha poll. They say that unlike others, who only offered their token support to the saffron brigade, Mickkybab toiled hard on the ground to get the bonus vote for the BJP. How much he laboured on the field to get the saffron flag flying high in Nuvem will be known only on May 16. But that has not stopped Mickkybab from exuding over confidence that the BJP would not only fare well in Nuvem, but in the neighbouring segments as well. As he moves around on a Harley Davidson – his latest acquisition – post the IT raids, Mickkybab’s aides expect a big reward for the GVP supremo from Manoharbhai after May 16. No rewards for the right guess.
Diggu-Vijai v/s MMC
It was a week when the Diggu-Vijai combine ruffled many a feather in the Margao civic body. The duo descended on the stinking Sonsodo waste mound to fire guns at the city fathers, many of whom no longer owe allegiance to the two MLAs. The duo is believed to have not taken lightly the support extended by the ruling municipal body to the saffron brigade in the Lok Sabha poll. That’s not all. Both Diggu and Vijaibab have been left fuming with their lieutenants making common cause with the saffronites. The Vijai camp in particular is upset that Vijaibab’s close aides Gonzacobab and Josephbab and no more associated with the Fatorda MLA. In fact, the Gonzaco-Joseph combine now enjoy close ties with former MMC chief Arthurbab, who is believed to have taken a lead to support the BJP in the Lok Sabha poll. Municipal polls may be a year and half away, but the Diggu-Vijai combine seems preparing the ground to get a new breed of city fathers in the civic body. For the moment, the ruling municipal group has retaliated against Vijaibab. Whether they will take the two MLAs head on or not will depend on the outcome of the Lok Sabha results.
Wait and watch.
