It was a week when Eid celebrations saw politicos hopping from house-to-house to greet their Muslim brethren in Xaxtidom. Fisheries Minister, Avertanbab was spotted around Rumdamol Housing Board, while Diggu and Vijaibab moved around in Margao and Fatorda respectively. It was a sheer coincidence that the trio was huddled together for lunch at the Fatorda residence of Ibrahimbai (don’t mistaken him for any other Ibrahim. He is a leading fish merchant and exporter, better known amongst Colvenkars as Mamu). Ibrahimbai, sources said, has been a close friend of the Margao MLA over the years. When he had contested the Assembly poll from Fatorda under the UGDP banner in 2007, the Vijai camp was quick to accuse Diggu of sabotage. But, thanks to Diggu, Ibrahimbai and Vijaibab came together on the eve of the 2012 Assembly polls to cut short Damubab’s political innings. That’s not all. If Churchillbab has been persistent in his accusation that Diggu worked overtime to defeat him in Navelim, his allegation was based on the promise that Ibrahimbai worked day in and out for Avertanbab’s victory. By now, you know Ibrahimbai’s connection with these three politicos.
Comeback bid: Neri taking his time
He is one former defeated Congress heavyweights from Xaxtidom who has sent clear signals that he has not called it a day in politics. Unlike many a defeated heavyweight, it’s not uncommon to find former minister Filipe Neribab at Congress meetings or dharnas. But, he appears taking his own time to announce his comeback bid, treading cautiously, so as not to ruffle any feathers within the Congress camp. The Congress surge in Velim in the LS poll ought to have prompted him to shed his inhibitions and take on his Independent rival Benjaminbab head on. But, Filipbab is moving step by step, consulting his close aides and seeking feedback from his foes as well. His next door challenger Joebab, a close confidant of ex-Power Minister, Aleixobab, appears monitoring Filipbab’s movements. Joebab has been seeking to know from his friends in the GPCC whether there was Filipbab’s hand behind his removal as the GPCC general secy. For, he now seems certain that Filipbab had called on the GPCC chief Johnbab in the Congress House before his ouster. More than Benjaminbab, the ex-Velim MLA may have to contend with party men and aspirants for the party ticket.
Politicos eyeing for votes from waste?
You must have certainly come across children and students churning out wealth out of waste. But, have you ever heard of votes out of waste? Might sound strange to many, but welcome to the commercial capital where local politicos are literally eyeing for votes from waste. If Vijaibab has spent a good amount of money on waste bins in an apparent bid to position himself in and around Fatorda’s housing societies before the municipal polls due next year, Margao city fathers seem to have not lagged behind either. With the civic body scurrying for huge manpower to sustain door-to-door waste collection, some of the city fathers are believed to have bulldozed their way by forcing the civic body to engage their supporters for the job. The civic body has fixed Rs 300 as the daily wage, which works out Rs 9,000 a month for each worker – enough to keep in good humour many a supporter. Even a BJP leader is believed to have pushed his supporters for garbage collection. But, the willy Diggu could sniff out the backroom politics played behind the door-to-door exercise. Leave alone the BJP or the city fathers, the Margao MLA, sources said, was upset with the way his arch rival and ex-MMC chief Saviobab was hogging the limelight. Diggu, sources said, sent an SOS to Vijaibab and prevailed upon him to boycott the formal launch of the project on Saturday. Vijaibab, who had an axe to grind with the ruling city fathers, had no option than to support his senior colleague.
Davorlim: Avertano in ruling, BJP in Opposition?
The weekend saw Fisheries Minister Avertanbab’s aide defeating a BJP leader to take control over the Davorlim panchayat. This may sound intriguing to many in Xaxtidom given that Avertanbab is part and parcel of the BJP-led Parrikar govt. Questions may be asked whether Avertanbab’s supporters no longer gel well the saffron brigade, which had backed the Independent MLA to the hilt to dethrone the Varca strongman from Navelim just two-and-half years ago. On Saturday, Paulobab and his group headed straight to Avertanbab’s residence to seek blessings after his election as sarpanch. A couple of Luizinhbab’s supporters were also seen around when the group met Avertanbab. The Fisheries Minister too told the media that Paulbab is his close ally. But, what came as a shocker was the claim made by panch Abelbab is that he belongs to the BJP and has been defeated by Paulobab. This has thrown up a question – whether the Davorlim panchayat belongs to Avertanbab and the BJP will sit in the opposition. This is indeed a food for thought for the ruling alliance, even as BJP’s Rupeshbai tried to downplay the episode, saying the party leadership did not involve itself in the panchayat election.
Where’s Parsekar?
Where’s health Minister, Parsekarbab? This question is doing the rounds in the corridors of the ailing Hospicio craving for urgent attention, with the hospital hit by bed shortage, doctors, servants, drivers, ambulances et al. One has not found Health Minister, Parsekarbab paying regular visits to the district hospital since taking over the portfolio after the 2012 parivartan. In fact, Parsekarbab is believed to have paid a single visit to Hospicio in the last two years and half. Leave alone attending to doctors and bed shortage, he has not honoured his promise to rid Hospicio of rodents and cockroaches. The Hospicio Visiting Committee, stuffed with the party cadre and neo-saffronites from Xaxti’s countryside, had been waiting for the Parsekarbab to visit the hospital, but in vain. This has thrown up a question whether he is following the CM’s footsteps ,who has not visited Xaxtidom for the last few months. Are the altar boys supporting the saffron dispensation listening to the cries of Hospicio patients craving for attention and better facilities? Only time will tell.
