The Madam’s Man...... --- By Nisser Dias

Now:- Mamta Madam's man

Mamta Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress party (TMC) testing its political hot-pot in Goa, has curried the political canvas to the extent of chief minister Pramod Sawant terming it as ‘political tourism.

The churning of it has caused Congress party to lose senior party man and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro. From ‘Sonia Madam’s man to ‘Mamta Madam’s man in his new innings.

But then as the old adage says, ‘rats do desert a sinking ship’. It has happened earlier also, hence it is no surprise. All politicians are opportunist, Luizinho is no exception

The grand old party has been sinking 2014 and very little is being done to refloat it.

Luizinho’s outburst during the press conference after his resignation as an MLA and also as the primary member of the Congress party was complete with half-truths and innuendos, which is his trademark.

He started off on a very wrong note stating he was proud to be born in Navelim, a village of late Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes and Cardinal Oswald Gracias. Incidentally the latter is from the village of Orlim.

Secondly though he could be credited for introducing Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language bill in the legislative assembly in 1986 post the bloodiest agitation for Konkani language, Faleiro cannot take the credit for leading the agitation forcing the government to accept Konkani as the sole official language.

If at all somebody deserves the credit it should be Churchill Alemao who led historic agitation.

Thirdly Faleiro says he was part of student’s agitation, which is another lie as it was Desmond D’costa, Prashant Naik, Jhoti Dhond, Sandesh Prabhudessai, Sabina Martins and others who led this agitation.

Chameleon's hand

Luizinho Faleiro was part of Zuari employee’s union. It is better not to delve deeper into his role in the union.

He spoke about formalin laced fish being brought to Goa. Did he raise the issue in the Assembly? The answer is no. What did he do during his two terms as chief minister of the state for traditional fishermen and trawler owners? Nothing. What has he done to handover the wholesale fish market to Goans? Nothing. But he has the gall to claim credit for the effort of others.

Though Goa gave Congress party the mandate in 2017 to govern, he claims that he was stopped by party observer Digvijay Singh from handing over the ‘intent to form government’ letter to the Governor.

One must remember that the party does not give letter; it is chief ministerial candidate who has the backing of majority of MLAs back presents it.

4 independent MLAs were opposing Faleiro’s move to meet the Governor with the letter as they were opposed to the idea of him being the chief minister. It was an indication that the 4 independent MLAs did not want the repeat of ‘Salazar’s rule’ in Goa.

So it seems like, his own selfish motives to become the chief minister of Goa for the third time eroded the Congress party’s opportunity to form the government.

So also in the last four and half years in the assembly his performance has been dismal. Let him list the motions and bills he has introduced in the Assembly since 2017.

His move to shift political parties is hoodwink TMC into giving him the reins of power again as he has reached the end of the long rope in Congress where his word does not carry weight.

Then:- Sonia Madam's man

One question that is on everybody’s mind is how TMC zeroed in on ‘Sonia Madam’s Man’ to be first to be inducted in the party. The answer to this question lies with one of the media houses holding its sway in Salcete. The ‘patrao’ of this media house is a long-time bum-chum of Faleiro and has been promised Rajya Sabha seat.

Besides one of his employee is also from West Bengal. The Bengali using his connection with his home-state elected and nominated representatives and the ‘patrao’ networked to bring TMC and Luizinho together.

It is a win-win situation for both. While Didi’s party gets a foot hold in Goa, Luizinho was facing anti-incumbency in Navelim. It is rumoured if he fails to win in Navelim he will also be made Rajya Sabha member.

Whether the Madam’s man will be happy with the equation is to be seen in the coming elections.