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.
Now:- Mamta Madam's man
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.
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. 
Then:- Sonia Madam's man
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.
