Whose survey is this?
This survey conducted by a private agency has raised many an eyebrow in Xaxtidom. No one knows for sure which political party or politicians are behind the agency engaged in conducting this Lok Sabha poll survey. Amongst the host of questions posed to citizens, the question over the people’s choice of candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat indeed makes the reading interesting. A female voter in Fatorda constituency was posed a query by the surveyor as to which amongst the Congress leaders – sitting MP Sardinhbab, AICC general secretary Luizinhbab or youth Congress chief Valankabai – would she prefer for the Congress ticket. When the voter outright rejected all the three leaders, the surveyor questioned whether Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha would fit the bill. A “yes” reply from the voter saw the surveyor putting a tick mark against the name of Alinabai before inserting the paper in a box. This raises a pertinent question why the surveyor made no mention of Narendrabhai, considered a probable BJP candidate for South Goa. The exercise has thrown up a host of questions, including the question whether the survey is trying to gauge the public mood in respect of Alinabai, a BJP MLA, when it is believed that the BJP top brass and the RSS have almost settled in favour of Narendrabhai’s candidature. It’s not yet known who’s behind the survey and whether the saffron brigade is really keeping its options open in minority-dominated South Goa.
Mickky skips a b’day
Goa Vikas Party supremo was conspicuous by his absence at the birthday bash thrown by his Benaulim MLA Caitubab on the occasion of his daughter’s 21st birthday. Even Manoharbhai travelled all the way to Xaxtidom and made it to the Narrow Gate – the venue of the birthday party. Many a Caitu and GVP supporter might have expected the Nuvem MLA to make his presence felt at the party, but in vain. Even deputy CM Babush came all the way from Mapusa to wish Caitubab’s daughter a happy birthday, along with some ruling party MLAs from down south. The GVP supremo, sources said, must have received a few calls from common friends to find out over his absence at the birthday bash. Well, the flamboyant MLA has defended his absence saying that he was too preoccupied with his constituents from Verna and Betalbatim on that day. Mickkybab has insisted that he was literally hopping from one house to another in Verna wishing the people on the occasion of functions in respect of first Holy Communion and Confirmation. If Mickkybab is to be believed, he finished his engagement late in the evening and had no time left to make it for the birthday party. Hi absence, however, has raised eyebrows especially in view of the fact that the Benaulim MLA has been coming close to the saffron brigade in recent times. Meanwhile, Manoharbhai is believed to have stolen the show at the birthday bash. Those seated in the VIP enclosure said the Chief Minister went around wishing all and sundry seated in the enclosure. Guess, why?
Titobab is in trouble
What was feared all along by the Fatorda Block Congress President Titobab may come true sooner than later. Blame it on the Vijai factor or otherwise, Titobab has suddenly realised that his days are numbered unless a miracle saves him the block congress president’s post. His father and veteran Congressman Mama Cardozo and M K Sheikh – both sworn Vijai’s detractors – no longer find a place in the GPCC. And Titobab is unsure for how many more days he would don the mantle of Fatorda block president. Sources said a senior Pradesh Congress leader called up the Fatorda block president this week to tell him point blank that it’s time to vacate the post to pave way for a new leader to take over. No doubt, in return, Titobab has been promised a promotion in the party hierarchy, but what has added salt to injury is that the PCC leader sought to know from Titobab whether the leadership can appoint one of the three women as the block president whose names were recommended for induction in the block committee. Titobab seemed to have resigned to his fate in view of the changing equations in the Congress, with even an Independent Vijaibab getting his close aides in the Pradesh Committee. Any doubts?
No zeal for Fat Fat
It’s Carnival time – a time for revelry and merry making. When it comes to Carnival, Xaxti leads from the front in ushering the three-day festivities of fun, frolic and music. But revellers are still in doubt whether the Fat Fat Saturday dance promoted and patronised by the Varca-based Alemao clan over the years, will take place this ensuing Carnival. Sources say that Joaquimbab is in no mood to revive the traditional dance, which once ushered in the Carnival festivities in Xaxtidom. Post-2002 Assembly polls, when the Alemao clan received a huge electoral jolt, Joaquimbab seems to have not shown the same zeal and enthusiasm in organising the dance. If the tradition got a break last year, fingers are crossed whether the dance will be revived this year. Joaquimbab says a meeting of the club will soon take a final call on the fate of the Fat Fat Saturday dance. But he is believed to have told his close friends that it’s difficult to arrange the huge sponsorship when the markets are down. Alemao detractors, however, are not ready to buy the argument. They feel the real reason behind the despondency in the Alemao camp is that the political stakes are presently down for the Alemaos. Hazard a guess, who’s planning a mega Carnival show in Xaxtidom if Joaquimbab once again says no to the Fat Fat Saturday dance. Watch out for this space.
