MARGAO: One of Goa’s most respected politicians, Dr Jorson Fernandes of Cuncolim, who is set to contest the coming Assembly elections, has made some important and interesting observations as a fallout of BJP Minister Michael Lobo joining the Congress and the alliance with Goa Forward Party, which is set to get even more seats that the Congress surrenders.
Dr Jorson himself an ally of the people’s movement has pointed out a piquant situation where Capt Viriato Fernandes, the State Convenor of the Goencho Aawaz movement, has joined the Congress party and is the Dabolim candidate.
Meanwhile, the Goencho Aawaz movement is fighting elections as the Goencho Swabhiman Party.
Now with Michael Lobo joining the Congress, he will be the direct and fierce opponent of the people’s candidate of Goencho Swabhiman Party in Calangute Roshan Mathias, who was handpicked by Capt Viriato to take on Michael Lobo. Now Lobo is Virato's party colleague and both are fighting to get maximum seats for the Congress.
“Wasn’t Capt Viriato aware of such a possibility? Didn’t he know this would happen”, asked Dr. Jorson The good doctor of Cuncolim went on to say “Now Goa Forward Party is an ally of the Congress. Vijai Sardesai, their leader as former TCP minister was fundamental in bringing about Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning Act that Capt Viriato has agitated against and fought for its scrapping. The act, under the garb of course correction, allows large-scale land conversions by rich builders even if the zoning of the land (in no-development zones, etc) does not initially, allow such projects. Viriato and Goencho Awaz have strongly fought against 16b. Now Vijai Sardesai is an ally of Captain Virato’s party.”
Dr Jorson also reminded that Goench Awaaz (now Goencho Swabhiman Party) in Calangute, has taken on Michael Lobo, especially against the manner in which the draft ODPs for Calangute and Candolim were cultivated. (Herald would like to remind readers that Roshan Mathais of Goencho Awaaz has filed a PIL against the draft ODP’s which resulted in the Lobo-directed inspection of Mathais house by PDA officials). Now Captain Virato belongs to the Congress and Mathais, Viriato’s ex-colleague will go all out against Michael Lobo, who is now Viriato’s party colleague. Can this ever have been imagined?”, Dr Jorson asks.
Dr Jorson agreed that Captain Viriato, and those elements who back him, need to seriously introspect on what happens when the head of a people’s movement does a planned handshake with a political party which picks up, during its journey, elements that their own movement have fought against.