------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- Will the INC 16 + NCP 3 + MGP 2 + Ind 1 total 22 combine succeed in passing a motion declaring their nominee Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane INC MLA elec the Speaker of the 5th Goa State Legislative Assembly? OR Will the BJP nominees Mr Laximikant Parsekar MLA elect Pernem ex BJP President or Mr Francisco D Souza MLA elect Mapusa OR Will the Independent MLA of Sanvordem Mr Anil Salgaocar Mineowner and industrialist ( who earlier extended support --via a letter-- to the INC combine ) and now yet another surprise nominee of the BJP for the Speakers post ---win the motion declaring him the Speaker and thus end the week long reign OR ensure a continued governance of CM Mr Digamber Kamat INC MLA Margao.
These are developments that took place today afternoon at the Secretariat Porvorim at the end of filing of nominations for the Speaker's post. Earlier in the day in an interesting development Mr Anil Salgaocar MLA elect of Sanvordem and a mine owner appealed against an order of a trial court judge Mr S Natekar to be present in person in court. Mr Salgaocar MLA plea expressing his inability to be present in person at a hearing of a case pending against him, on grounds of exigencies of business and old age 64 years, besides his physical disability owing to an illness was turned down by the judge on grounds that if he could travel abroad there was no grounds to accept Mr Salgaocars contention that he could not attend court in person. Obviously this would mean that Mr Salgaocar an industrialist mine owner and now MLA would create a record of sorts being hauled up in the witness box and this would not augur well to either his personality or status for he is known in industrial circles to have the "power to rock the establishment (read government)" Many believe that this development could be the reason for his sudden volte face against the INC combine government of CM Mr Digamber Kamat to whom he earlier pledged his support. The presence of an industrialist mine owner in the Goa Assembly whose stakes in the removal of "River Princess " over due since 20th April, 2007 has been a dangling Damocles sword for successive Minister's of Tourism in the state ever since it remained embedded in the sea off the Candolim beach in North Goa Bardez taluka will definitely dictate the political drama before the government gets into the saddle for governance. Further with the exception of the UGDP 1 and Save Goa 2 all others viz NCP INC and BJP can merge (they need two thirds of their present strenght in the House to do so and support any combine for the Government that will bring stability. Thus will it be a "merger" two thirds of the 16 INC MLA's with BJP MLA's or the smaller entities like UGDP 1 SGF 2 Ind 1 OR two thirds of the 14 BJP MLA's with the INC MLA's or with the two thirds of the 3 NCP MLA's plus other splintered groups UGDP 1 SGF 2 MGP 2 Or will there be expulsions of members by their respective parties which will render them as "unattached" members in the House? All eyes are on the two BJP MLA's of Canacona and Poinguinim . There was also a furore created by the visit of Mr A Lourenco Save Goa Front Curtorim MLA elect to New Delhi. But the whip issued today has averted any further damage. The Front has now gained a recognised status of a State Party following over one sixth votes polled. The UGDP MLA's status is now a question of law for it does have MLA's who contested on its party symbol "two leaves" in the newly carved State of Jarkhand (a part of Bihar ) With this, tommorrow when the House meets to elect the new Speaker of the Goa State Legislative Assembly at 1100 am MLA's of Goa could be creating yet another record of sorts. There is a general feeling in Goa that notwithstanding the secular image the hotch potch combination may not augur well for the present ruling dispensation and therefore a combination that could give STABILITY would be in the fitness of things given the pulls and pressures one witnesses in a coalition of sorts. The INC has its MLA elect in all Talukas except Canacona ( both MLA's of its two costituencies belong to the BJP ) and in Sanguem Taluka (one of two Assembly constituencies belong to the BJP and another to Independent MLA his support has now come to the BJP) Therefore the INC could appoint Ministers so that all talukas are looked after and the rest given corporations. But not many INC combine MLA's believe in "Supreme sacrifices" a la Ms Sonia Gandhi, hence the unpredictable status of the present combine which does not augur well for this tiny 25th State of Goa. Friday the 15th June 11.00 a.m IST will spell all that. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Download prohibited? No problem! To chat from any browser without download, Click Here: http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php