Mid-night diplomacy
The offer may sound weird to many a Xaxtikar, and may even leave many a Curtorkar fuming. But the sultan of Taleigao Babush Monseratte travelled all the way from Tiswadi to Xaxtidom to offer the Varca strongman Bab Churchill the Curtorim seat in lieu of withdrawing from the election fray. Indeed, the troika comprising of Babush, Vijai and Reginaldo – who had in the past sabotaged Valanka’s chances of getting the 2007 Lok Sabha ticket – walked inside the Varca strongman’s residence past midnight to mollify him with a request to do a rethink on his decision to contest the April 12 poll. The trio tried to impress upon the strongman to see reason and do nothing that would harm Congress prospects at this juncture. Babush is believed to have even told the Varca strongman how the party had helped him in the past by giving four tickets to the Alemao family. But Churchillbab sounded adamant. A source said that Churchillbab insisted on Reginaldbab’s replacement with either Sardinhabab or daughter Valanka. That’s the time when Babush is believed to have come with an offer that came as a shocker for both Reginaldbab and Vijaibab. The offer was simple: That the party would be ready to accommodate Churchillbab in Curtorim in the by-poll in the event Reginaldbab makes it to the Lok Sabha. Though the offer looked tempting, Churchillbab refused to fall to the bait and the trio left his residence disappointed and dejected at around 2 am in the morning. And in the end the midnight diplomacy came a cropper.
Radha for Reginaldo
He had stood by the Varca strongman Bab Churchill in good and bad times over the years. And he is one politician from Xaxtidom who has been strident in his opposition to the Congress. But the irrepressible Radharao may not side with Churchillbab if at all the strongman throws his hat in the ring, but is expected to support the Congress candidate this time round. This brings us to a question whether Radharaobab has a change of heart towards the Congress, which has been his number one enemy over the years. No, not at all and the UGDP leader is unlikely to change his anti-Congress stance now or in the future. But sources in the know say that Radharaobab may throw his weight behind Reginaldbab this ensuing election. He and the Congress South Goa Congress candidate share close friendship spanning over the years and is expected to support the Curtorim MLA this time round. It is learnt that Churchillbab had called Radharaobab to inform him about his decision to contest the Lok Sabha poll as an independent candidate, but is believed to have received a cold shoulder from the UGDP leader, who feels that Reginaldo may be a better option to defeat the BJP in the ensuing poll. Where would all this leave the UGDP and its secretary general Anacletobab remains unknown.
Fatorda factor
This independent MLA has won round one of the battle for the Congress ticket with the high command keeping on hold Sardinhbab’s ticket after clearance by the Congress Election Committee. And the Vijai camp burst into celebration no sooner the Congress leadership cleared decks for Reginaldo’s nomination. But Congressmen opposed to Vijaibab have decided to take the ongoing political battle to the Fatorda ground this ensuing election. Holding the independent MLA responsible for sabotaging Sardinhbab’s ticket on grounds that he would not work for the three-time MP, Congressmen owing allegiance to the outgoing MP have decided to engage Vijaibab in his own den. Their mission is simple: They have vowed to go all out to ensure the Congress candidate does not take a lead in Fatorda to send a message to the Congress leadership that their decision to go by Vijaibab’s advise was wrong. But the Fatorda MLA is unlikely to take the challenge lying down. Known for calling spade a spade, Vijaibab has accepted the gauntlet from his opponents and has called a meeting of his supporters and close aides from Fatorda to chalk out the future strategy. This ensuing election, the independent MLA will have to contend with not only the Damubab factor, but dissident Congressmen as well. The battle has just begun.
Where’s Valanka?
Whether the Varca strongman will execute his threat to quit the Congress or not will be known by Saturday morning. But members of the Alemao clan seemed to have rallied behind Churchillbab. While brother Joaquim and nephew Yuri are believed to be holed up in Malaysia on a business trip, Ciabro, Roosevelt and Kennedy were all present alongside the Varca strongman at the media briefing on Friday. Nephew Warren was around at the venue with his band of dedicated workers, not to mention Churchillbab’s uncle J B Ferrao who was around to extend support to the strongman. The surprise absentee at Churchill’s two media briefings and a public meeting at Navelim was ladli Valankabai. Ever since dada announced his decision to quit the Congress to contest as an independent candidate, Valanka has withdrawn herself from the media glare. She has not opened herself for questioning about her stand on dada’s decision to quit
the Congress. This assumes significance given that a section of Congressmen are mulling action against the Youth
Congress president in the event Churchillbab once again says bye to the Congress. Wait and watch till Saturday as
the Congress candidate is bracing up to file his
nomination papers.
