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Visit http://www.garcabranca.com for details/booking/confirmation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Victoria to unite ex-women MLAs PANJIM: The lone woman MLA of Goa Assembly and Deputy Speaker Victoria Fernandes has decided to take an initiative to force political parties to give women candidates tickets in this assembly election. She has decided to bring together all ex-women MLAs and make a representation to all authorities concerned, Mrs Fernandes said at a press conference here today. [H] Dears, There is no reservation for women in elections beyond the Panchayat/ZP and Municipal levels. So the Administration can do nothing about it. Victoria has to petition her own party, Congress [which, incidentally, is headed by a powerful woman] to set the electoral trend by nominating 14 women candidates in Goa to start the trend. The BJP is not having a gender hang-up. It is , however, sure to nominate more Cristaos [Catholic by name if not by religion.... as was the case of Flaviano Dias of the VCD fame] to show that it is more SECULAR than the Congress. Actually, the Congress is not Secular, it is agnostic...save its undying faith in money and winnability! I think the part will be given a decent burial in the forthcoming election. I do not know if the MGP, the UGDP or the yet to be confirmed SGDP can make a major impact. Our Legislative Assembly will, in all probability, be like a prime studd...well hung! The electorate has a choice between the Devil, a hard place , a rock and the deep sea....any of which may be 'converted' for any other use without prior consent. Asim sao coisas do Mundo.......and a hung Assembly is the best solution...we could do with another spell of President's Rule. Last time round, Lt.General [Retd] JFR Jacob gave us two Wild Life Sanctuaries. This time, S.C. Jamir may help us to do SHUDDHIKARAN [reconversion] of the lands illegally converted for Estates, Hotels, Cricket Grounds and SEZ. May Mummy Victoria get her plea acceded to...even if it means that Jenifer Monserrate gets a ticket in Santa Cruz and Mummy faces Parrikar in Panaji The best thing that the women politicians can do is to enroll more and more women in the party, train them at the Panchayat and ZP levels and inspire them to achieve. These candidates must learn two essentials of politics: 1. emotional oratory in Konkani [like Churchill] and 2. manipulative use of statistics [like Rane, Parrikar and Ravi]. It just does not matter if one or both the aspects are totally fake...as long as the voters believe you. Of course, one needs to find a 'sponsor'. Nothing wrong with that. Village football games, the kits, prizes as also the Narkasur effigies and revelry are all sponsorred. It costs money. Everything is about money, honey. Mog asundi. Miguel Mog asundi, MIGUEL BRAGANZA, Mhapsa Horticulturist/Editor/Columnist Botanical Society of Goa