Talak versus Vijai/Babita
Few months back Rajan Talak, a builder-turned NGO convener while carrying out Clean Margao Green Margao initiative, got into a tiff with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and MMC chairperson Babita Angle when he accused them of destroying these initiatives planned along the Ravindra Bhavan road where the tree saplings planted had been destroyed by the new carnival parade route in Fatorda. Adding insult to injury, Babita had said Rajan’s NGO had no permission to work across Margao on his initiatives. But now Babita in a handwritten note to the MMC on Vijai’s request directed the MMC to carry out cleanliness work across Fatorda through this week until October 2 as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Rajan asks why he was denied while Vijai and the Goa Forward camp get a free ride. Rajan, who has good ties with the BJP and is expected to contest the polls is livid and wants to take Vijai and his initiatives by the gauntlet.
AAP volunteers on their toes
While the AAP has been receiving criticism in Punjab and Delhi and Kejriwal and Sisodia have been under a lot of scrutiny, the party in Goa has got its volunteers on their toes, be it local volunteers, or those come from Delhi and other parts.
But from a rainy Sunday at Holy Spirit Church, to pacing up and down through the streets of Margao in their topis, to interacting with people at parking lots and getting into conversations at the market at SGPDA market, AAP is all over the place. It now remains to be seen, if this “show” will lead to seats or only add to vote splits.
Cong a divided house at Seva Dal event
The recent Congress Seva Dal function at Fatorpa exposed a lot of inconsistencies and weak links within the party. The function, which was attended by several Congress leaders and workers, saw Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco sitting amongst the crowd. The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Luizinho Faleiro in his speech took a dig at local Congress MLAs questioning their leadership qualities and worth since the last four-and-half years. The entire proceedings took place under the watchful eyes leaders such as Pratapsingh Rane, Chella Kumar, Digambar Kamat, Babu Kavalekar, Shantaram Naik and others. Filipe Neri, Aleixo Sequeira, Francis Sardinha, Nilkanth Halarnkar, Dayanand Sopte and other former Congress MLAs were also present.
Former MP Francis Sardinha was also present. During the discussions, Reginaldo preferred to sit amongst the people while Francis Sardinha was seen sitting on the dais. After the function, Opposition Leader Pratapsingh Rane questioned Reginaldo as to why he didn’t join them on the dais to which Reginaldo sarcastically replied, “I am always accused of not respecting the Congress seniors and today as a mark of respect I sat in the crowd and let the dais open for them.” Meanwhile, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat leaving the function after the lighting the traditional lamp was also noted by several party workers. Luizinho Faleiro claimed that he has no desire for the Chief Minister’s post and accused those who had the responsibility of being leaders of not having worked. “Who stopped them?” he questioned. Luizinho said that Congress is not a railway station where anyone boards and alights on his own. Congress is a movement and this party has some discipline, he made it all clear.
NCP looking for potential candidates
in Salcete
NCP is eager to set its base in the South and for weeks it has been looking for potential candidates in the South especially in Salcete, where the party hopes to make a dent. The latest news is former Velim contestant Michael Beny da Costa. Chinchinim-based Michael, who is known for taking up the issues of seafarers had contested the last election from the constituency on the Trinamool Congress ticket but did not make much of an impact. Talks between the two are at a final stage and sources stated that it is expected to be sorted out soon.
Mickky on BRICS & support
Taking a dig at the predictions of the Congress party, Goa Vikas Party supremo Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco, challenged the Congress party to get double digit seats in the upcoming State Assembly elections, without his support. He is willing to align with the Congress, provided his manifesto is fully accepted. Pacheco will now announce some of his candidates on October 23 at the party convention and this will indicate GVP’s plans on potential alliances. With BRICS being the flavour of the month and everyone talking about the work being done in the South, Pacheco took pot-shots at the BJP government continuing with his tirade on the government that GVP was a coalition partner. Welcoming the development of good roads due to BRICS, he pondered that these things could have happened earlier if the government was positive and had a proper vision but felt the same did not happen as ‘they had some negativity’.
