No support from his own
Varca strongman, Bab Churchill, has suddenly realised that the Home Ministry is going slow in deciding the fate of Caitubab’s citizenship. He is trying to fathom out why his own Congress government is going slow on deciding the complaint against the Benaulim MLA, who is supporting the BJP-led government. So before heading to the pilgrim centre of Vailankanni, sources said Churchillbab quietly air dashed to Delhi along with lawyer and long-time family friend, Radharaobab, to find out with the Union Home Ministry the status of the complaint against Caitubab. It’s now over a month since the Supreme Court had issued directions to hear afresh and decide the petition against Caitubab. It is learnt that the duo tried to find out from the “Prescribed Authority” in the Union Home Ministry over the delay in deciding the complaint. Radharaobab, in particular, who is representing the complainant, John Fernandes, a resident of Navanguly-Varca, is sore that even a notice has not been issued to his client after the Supreme Court order. The duo has finally returned back to Goa and appears to have realised that they have little option, but to allow the law to take its own course. The Alemao camp is trying to find out whether the officer concerned in the Home Ministry has any connection whatsoever with the North Eastern state of Manipur. North East is slowly and surely gaining popularity in Goa in recent times, not only because of the annual craft bazaars organised in the state, but the emerging connections between Goa’s political class and the North East. Guess, what?
Something’s cooking?
Flamboyant Goa Vikas Party supremo and Nuvem MLA Mickkybab air dashed to Delhi earlier this week on an unknown mission. It appears that he is keeping his cards close to his chest. He says his visit to the national capital was strictly personal and denied that he had any appointments with NCP stalwarts in Delhi. Mickky is not new to the NCP leadership, having been its leader before he quit the party to take over the GVP reigns in the run up to the 2012 Assembly polls. Before taking the flight to Delhi, sources said that Mickky and Independent MLA Vijaibab were spotted together at a Colva restaurant. Though they claimed they met by sheer coincidence, they are believed to have had a long chat on the current political situation. Sources said Mickkybab is not too happy with the Manoharbhai dispensation. Though his GVP is supporting the saffron dispensation, the GPV supremo has not benefited in any way. In the meantime, political observers are still trying to reason out as to why Mickkybab thought of inviting MGP’s supremo Sudinbhai and BJP’s Michaelbab for this year’s football finals at Betalbatim.
Finding himself again
Former Velim MLA Filipbab is one Congress heavyweight who seems to be slowly but surely coming out of hibernation post-2012 polls. He had virtually gone underground after his electoral debacle, but now appears positioning himself to play yet another innings from Velim. He is one defeated Congress leader, sources say, who is making repeated presence in the District Congress office and attends to party work. When the Velim Block Congress Committee decided to hold the monthly meeting of executive committee, he decided to host the meet at his residence. And the impressive turn out of Congress workers for the meet seems to have only emboldened this low-profile, but shrewd, politician. Filipbab also seemed to have handled well the attack from his former ministerial colleagues over his statement that he had warned the party leadership not to take the clergy for granted. He is believed to have denied having made the statement, but the video footage shows otherwise. Well, his detractors within the Velim Congress camp are wary over his comeback plans. They say the defeated heavyweights should make way for young blood who had stood by the party in both good and bad times. They are believed to have questioned the rationale behind holding the block meeting at Filipbab’s residence. They now plan to take up the matter with party leadership to hold such meetings on a neutral turf, which offers level playing field for all the aspirants. Is Filipbab listening?
Vijai’s silence baffling
Friday saw Manoharbhai descending on Fatorda’s political battlefield ~ the scene of intense war between arch rivals, MLA Vijaibab and ex-MLA Damubab. During his host of visits to Fatorda, Manoharbhai was always seen in the company of Damubab and the saffron brigade. But Friday turned out to be a different ball game altogether. It was Damubab’s birthday and Manoharbhai made it a point to visit his residence to wish him on his birthday. And he later spent time with Vijaibab on Fatorda’s development, especially on road infrastructure in view of the ensuing Lusofonia games. This is perhaps the first time since 2012 polls, that Manoharbhai and the Fatorda MLA have come together to usher in Fatorda’s development. In fact, the Chief Minister showered praises on Vijaibab for extending cooperation on the road infrastructure works. While many eyebrows were raised over the emerging bonhomie between Manoharbhai and Vijaibab, the Fatorda MLA has sought to silence his detractors over his sudden silence in taking on the saffron dispensation.
He swears that there’s no deal or any quid pro quo between him and Manoharbhai to keep his mouth shut, promising to raise 100 questions in the coming Assembly session. But his argument that he is still in the Opposition ranks, but has stopped his tirade against the government to expose the silence of the main opposition Congress party seems unconvincing to his friends and foes. Besides the Congress, Damubab’s close aides are trying to find out Vijaibab’s sudden silence. Wait and watch!!
