DIVINE CONNECTIVITY!
* Oppn leader Babu Kavlekar celebrated his birthday with Satyanarayan Pooja at his residence
* Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao preferred to go on pilgrimage to Vailankanni on his birthday
* TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai's birthday falls on June 14, but he has already planned a trip outside
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People in Kerala and other states laugh at Goan politicians for hosting mega birthday parties-------------------------------------
- Vijai Sardesai
MARGAO: Are the lavish birthday parties thrown by Saxtti’s politicos for their supporters and well-wishers a thing of the past? Or, are the politicos content in celebrating their birthdays on a low key with the next Assembly election still around four years away?
Salcete politician’s self-obsession in celebrating birthdays in a grand manner by inviting hundreds, if not thousands of supporters, is well known amongst the local populace. Instances are galore when Ministers, MLAs, besides aspiring and budding politician’s celebrating their birthdays with their supporters and workers on football grounds and open dance floors. However, there now seems a change in the outlook of the politicos around Salcete’s countryside.
Post-2017 Assembly election, one had not come across Salcete politicians celebrating their birthdays in a big way. Leave alone a big birthday bash, don’t be surprised if you come across an appeal from the politicians not to release congratulatory messages in the media.
In fact, if Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar celebrated his birthday with the annual Satyanarayan Pooja at his residence, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao preferred to go on a pilgrimage to Vailankanni on his birthday. And, the duo made it sure that they issued an appeal to their supporters and their well-wishers not to insert any birthday greeting advertisements in the media.
Salcete’s lone Minister and Goa Forward party chief Vijai Sardesai seems to have followed the footsteps of his senior colleagues in the Legislative Assembly. The TCP Minister’s birthday falls on June 14, but Sardesai has already planned a trip outside and will not be available for his supporters and well-wishers on his birthday.
That Sardesai will not be available to his supporters on his birthday became evident while he was distributing paddy seeds to farmers of Fatorda constituency during the weekend. And, Sardesai attributed his decision not to celebrate his birthday to the fact that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is away in America undergoing medical treatment. “The CM is down with illness. Another Minister is undergoing treatment in a hospital. In such a situation, it is not proper to celebrate one’s birthday," Sardesai told the farmers.
The TCP Minister also cited another reason behind his decision not to throw a bash or launch or inaugurate any projects on his birthday. “People in Kerala and other states laugh at Goan politicians for hosting mega birthday parties. They wonder why politicians in Goa come out with newspaper supplements to outline their achievements on the development front or lay foundation stones or commission projects coinciding with their birthdays," he said, adding 'I too feel the time has come to give this obsession of throwing a gala party on birthdays a good bye'.
The famous Dando ground at Benaulim, the Betalbatim football ground, the Ambelim football ground, the CRC football ground at Chinchinim, the Cuncolim SAG ground, Blasco Executive open dance floor, Navelim and not to mention the open spaces near the residence of the politicians, had once played host to many a birthday party over the years.
