Wake-up call for Cong?
It is destination Xaxtidom for Sharad Pawarji-led NCP as the party is moving towards expanding its base in the taluka, leaving Congressmen baffled. The party has prepared the roadmap to tap secular votes that had strayed towards the saffron brigade in the 2012 polls. Questions are now being raised where the NCP’s move would leave the Congress, especially when the party has been waiting for the return of its core voters back into the party fold after last year’s electoral rout.
Well, the NCP leadership has downplayed its attempt to make forays into Xaxtidom, but insiders say the party is eyeing on certain seats wrested from the Congress by non-BJP MLAs. After all, the leadership says that a host of seats have fallen vacant in South Goa after the rout of the Congress in the elections. Well, Congress leaders led by Subhashbhai have tried to make light of NCP’s march in South and in Xaxtidom. But a section within the Congress feels that NCP’s move to spread its base in Xaxtidom would certainly come as a blessing in disguise for the party. For most of the party heavyweights, who were defeated, are yet to come out from their hibernation and help the party flag fly high. The party has been literally lying in the dumps since the last one year, with even the party’s second-rung leadership staying away, not knowing whether the heavyweights have taken ‘sanyas’. Will NCP’s presence in Xaxtidom and down south come as a wake up call for the Congressmen. Only time will tell.
Churchill is unhappy
Delhi High Court’s directives to the Union Home Minister to expedite Caitubab’s citizenship question must have come as welcome news for Varca strongman Churchillbab. He had been waiting anxiously since the last four months to hear news on the petition filed by John Fernandes, a resident of Navangully-Varca, which also happens to be the home ward of the strongman. No sooner the Delhi HC set eight weeks deadline on the Home Ministry to decide the citizenship issue, Churchillbab had in his possession the court order, even before John’s lawyer Radharaobab broke the news at a media conference. But sources said that Churchillbab must be an unhappy man as John had to knock the doors of the court when the Centre is ruled by the Congress government. Detractors of the Varca strongman wonder whether Churchillbab’s writ no longer runs large in Delhi after his defeat in the elections. For the Union Home Ministry literally slept over John’s application for four long months, virtually forcing him to approach the HC seeking directions. Eyebrows are raised as to why the Home Ministry did not dispose of the petition on a priority basis since any order against Caitubab would have suit the interests of the Congress and Churchillbab alike. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is a Congressman and not new to Goa. And he is one Congress leader who enjoys close rapport with Ex-CM Diggu. It’s not known whether Churchillbab suspects Diggu’s hand in the Home Ministry’s delay in disposing of the citizenship petition against Caitubab.
Waiting for her turn?
What’s Valankabai really upto these days is a question doing the rounds in Congress circles. Over a month ago, when Congress Mahila chief Anita Verma landed in Goa to shortlist candidates for the Goa mahila chief, Valankabai happened to be one of the short-listed candidates. But now all eyes are focused on Churchillbab’s ladli with the Goa Youth Congress election process presently underway. Incumbent GPYC Chief Pratimabai says she is not seeking another term for the coveted seat. Now sources in the know say that Valankabai has renewed her youth congress membership, making her eligible to participate as well as contest in the polls. That’s not all. She is believed to have worked overtime to help a large number of youth Congress workers to renew their membership before the expiry of the deadline. Once beaten, twice shy and Valankabai does not want to comment anything on the ensuing Youth Congress polls scheduled next month. She only says that she is working for the party, but does not want to disclose anything whether she would throw her hat in the ring. Valankabai’s predicament is understandable given her bitter experience with YC polls two years ago, when she was barred from contesting on the charge of canvassing for her candidature. Incidentally, Valankabai’s cousin brother and younger son of uncle Joaquimbab, Yuri, has already made it to the top post as NCP youth wing chief. It’s too early to say whether Valankabai is also aiming for the top Youth Congress slot. Wait and watch till June end or early July to get to know the candidates vying for the top post. The name of GPCC chief Subhashbab’s daughter is also doing the rounds in political circles, but it’s known whether she too is eyeing for the top slot.
Mickky thinks big
It was a week when the flamboyant Mickkybab preferred to take on Manoharbhai on mining, Mopa and the deteriorating law and order. He even turned down Manoharbhai’s invite to join the delegation to the Prime Minister to demand Special Status for Goa. His sudden outbursts against the government raised many an eyebrow in political circles as the Goa Vikas Party supremo has been in the cold for quite some time. The attack also comes against the backdrop of a group of MLAs proceeding to Pune during the weekend to call on NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to discuss the political situation in the state. Though the GVP is an alliance partner in the Parrikar-led government, Mickkybab has not benefitted much in the political scheme of things. Even the proposed coastal infrastructure development Corporation, which he was expected to head, is yet to take shape. Well, Mickkybab is believed to have opened another front against the saffron brigade, this time in Alinabai’s Cortalim constituency. He says he has no plans to give up Nuvem, but at the same time is anxious to make inroads in Cortalim. For Mickkybab Cortalim seems to be the next destination, but the saffron brigade isn’t going to sit quite and watch its fort crumbling. The battle has just begun.
No birthday bash
Fatorda was literally quiet on Friday. Birthday boy Vijaibab is out of station and there were no celebrations this time round. The constituency missed the Bollywood flavour this time, unlike the last few years when Vijaibab made it a point to rope in Bollywood actors to add glamour to his birthday celebrations.
Well, Vijaibab is holed up in Brussels attending a conference. He is known to throw lavish birthday parties, but this time around nothing. Surely the MLA must have saved quite a lot of money.
