Vishwajit leaves in one Delhi flight; Sopte, Shirodkar, Shripad fly out of goa on another flight bound for national capital
VIKRAM NAYAK
VASCO
While the State was abuzz with intense political speculations over the ill-health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, hectic political activity also unfolded at Dabolim Airport on Monday night.
According to sources, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane left for New Delhi with BJP MP Prabhubhai Vasava by the 9.30 pm flight.
There was a further political buzz that Mandrem’s Congress MLA Dayanand Sopte arrived at the Dabolim airport at about 11 pm to leave for New Delhi by the midnight flight. According to a source, Sopte had reportedly booked two air tickets to New Delhi.
“One Indigo flight made as many as three announcements on the public address system calling for one Dayanand Sopte and the plane finally left for New Delhi at about 10 pm left without Sopte,” the source said.
When Sopte arrived at the Dabolim airport, he was asked about the purpose of his trip.
“There is nothing political in this. I am on a purely business trip. I am a businessman and I leave for New Delhi at least once a month,” said Sopte.
Shiroda’s Congress MLA Subhash Shirodkar then arrived at the Dabolim airport at about 11.30 pm and was expected to accompany Sopte by the 12.50 am flight.
Asked about his purpose to New Delhi, Shirodkar replied: “I am only going for a reception. If you ask me if other leaders have left, then I can say they must also have been invited. We are around 5-6 persons invited for a reception.”
At about 11.40, Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik arrived at the airport,
“I am not aware of any political development. I am going for a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the National Institute of Homeopathy,” replied Naik.
Adding to the political drama was the presence of NCP State President Jose Philip D’Souza at the airport.
When contacted, D’Souza claimed he was not flying out of Goa, but had come to meet someone at the airport.
No politics, says Tendulkar as he rushes to Delhi
MARGAO: With Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar returning to the state, Bharatiya Janata Party Presidentand Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar has headed to the national capital on late Monday evening.
While Tendulkar told the media here on Monday evening that he is rushing to Delhi by the evening flight to attend a meeting of the House Committee on Tourism and Transport, his visit to the national capital assumes significance in view of the political developments emerging in the state.
‘There’s no politics behind my visit to Delhi. And, there’s no major political activity taking place in the state,” Tendulkar told the media before rushing to his vehicle to head to the Dabolim airport to catch the evening flight.
The BJP president had come to Fatorda to participate at the Sarvajanik Durga Puja at the Samrat Gardens along with former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik.
