Trend of making films on unsung heroes should continue: Jackie Shroff

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March 19, 2019

Jackie Shroff, who plays RAW founder director in “Romeo Akbar Walter”, says the trend of bringing the story of unsung on celluloid should continue.

Shroff will be seen playing the role of RN Kao, the founding father of the Indian intelligence agency. The film features John Abraham in the lead.

“I am glad I got the opportunity to bring the story of those people who served the country on screen. Playing this role is a feather in my cap. This trend should continue. We have so many unsung heroes. People today need to know about such stories.

“I have also played defence personnel and cop in films. I used to have a uniform of policeman at home as I had two films at that time. I would just change the badges and wear the same uniform again,” Shroff told.

The 62-year-old actor played an IAF pilot in “Border”, while he played a cop in “Ram Lakhan” and “Police Officer” among others.

Shroff said as there was little information available about Kao, he completely relied on his director Robbie Grewal’s research and tried to do his best. The actor-director previously collaborated on “Samay: When Time Strikes” (2003).

“I asked him why he chose me for this role, he told me, he liked my screen presence. I have done a film with Robbie so I trust him. I knew he will handle me well. I am like a child, I just blend according to the director.

“I believe in being sincere to my work and do what the director is expecting me to be.”

Set in the tumultuous period of 1968-71, “RAW” is based on true events which had an impact on the future of three countries – India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The film also stars Mouni Roy, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Sikander Kherr and Raghubir Yadav.

Produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Dheeraj Wadhawan, Ajay Kapoor, Vanessa Walia, and Gary Grewal, “RAW” is slated for an April 5 release.

‘White Chicks 2’ is going to happen one day: Terry Crews

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Web Team

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March 19, 2019

Terry Crews says he is up for a sequel to 2004 comedy “White Chicks”.

The actor starred in the film as flirtatious pro basketball player Latrell Spencer who takes a shine to an undercover FBI agent Marcus Copeland, who along with his agent brother Kevin, don whiteface as white women to crack a pair of kidnappings.

Real-life brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans starred as Kevin and Marcus, respectively.

Crews said he would love to reprise his role in the film’s second installment even if years go by.

“I would love (a sequel)! I’m staying in shape for ‘White Chicks 2’! I will never get out of shape you know that, right?

“I will be 75 and say, ‘Here we go, I’m ready to go!’ I will never, ever get out of shape because that movie’s going to happen one day,” the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star told Us Weekly.

The Wayans brothers teased a sequel to the film a few years ago on social media.

A heart-warming tribute to Janice Freeman from Miley Cyrus

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Web Team

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March 19, 2019

American singer Miley Cyrus, on Monday, delivered an emotionally moving tribute at the memorial service of ‘The Voice’ contestant Janice Freeman.

Freeman, who was a part of Miley’s team in the Season 13 of the American television series, died from combined complications of lupus and a bronchial infection on March 2, reports an online portal.

As her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, helped her perform at the service, Cyrus said, “Before we sing this song for Janice, I just want to clear up a rumor. I was never her coach, ever, she was always mine. I learned more from her than anyone that I’ve ever gotten the honor to be in the room with, not just vocally, I should’ve gotten more lessons than I did, but she taught me everything that I know about love.”

“I had planned on singing a song for her, but just losing her is just too much for me. So my dad’s going to take care of this for me. But, I’ll always be your sister, and I’m here for you, and I’m here for your family, and Janice I’ll miss you more than I could ever say. So, my dad is going to do this for me,” Cyrus continued and invited her father to the stage.

She stood on the dais as her father began to perform the song and eventually joined him later and the two finished the performance together.

“Thank you for letting us be a part of your family and thank you Janice for letting me be your friend — it’s been an honor,” the singer said before leaving the stage.

Zachary Levi ‘not ready’ for sex symbol tag post ‘Shazam!’

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Web Team

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March 19, 2019

Zachary Levi says he does not want his superhero role in DC Comics movie “Shazam!” to turn him into a sex symbol.

The 38-year-old actor, who portrays the titular character in the upcoming DC Extended Universe film, does not find such labels “real”.

When asked by Entertainment Tonight if he was prepared to be fawned upon by fans, he said, “No, I’m not ready for it. I don’t think about that stuff.”

“That’s not real life. None of that is real life. All that stuff is just the icing on the cake of the not real life that all of this is. So if people want to put me in the same conversation as all those guys (Chirs Hemsworth), rock ‘n’ roll. I just am going to keep doing what I think is the right thing in my life,” he added.

“Shazam!” revolves around a teenage orphan named Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who is given the ability to transform into a godlike entity whenever he says the word, ‘Shazam!’.

But Batson and his new foster brother Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) must learn to use the powers in order to stop Dr Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), a villain with superpowers of his own.

The actor said the Marvel film was the biggest project he has ever been a part of.

“This is by far the biggest thing I’ve ever been blessed enough to be a part of and be the titular character of, so it’s super surreal and super cool.

“I always dreamed and believed it was possible that I could be a superhero maybe one day, certainly ever since I was a kid I wanted that to be a reality. But these roles are rare, there’s not that many of them and I had already been very blessed playing an Asgardian in another universe,” he said.

Let the Colour of Love to stay forever

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Web Team

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March 19, 2019

Holi is a Hindu spring festival that originated from the Indian subcontinent, celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent, also known as the “festival of colours” or the “festival of love”. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the Vikram Samvat Hindu Calendar month of Phalgun, which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon Holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, or Phagwah.

In addition to India and Nepal, the festival is celebrated by Indian subcontinent diaspora in countries such as Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Mauritius, and Fiji. In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.

However, Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil is destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rang wali Holi – a free-for-all festival of colours, where people smear each other with colours and drench each other. Water guns and water-filled balloons are also used to play and colour each other. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children, and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing, and dance. People visit family, friends, and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh, gossip, and share Holi delicacies, food, and drinks. Some customary drinks include bhang (made from cannabis), which is intoxicating. In the evening, after sobering up, people dress up and visit friends and family and it is celebrated with vibrant colours – these colour are actually colours of joy, colours of love and colours that fill the life with happiness to the core of hearts. It adorns each life with its various hues.

It’s a festival of gaiety but then there are few who make this festival, a festival of evil. They do this by infuriating the strangers by forcefully throwing colours on them; some use colours that are difficult to remove and unsafe for skin and health. Many take it as a day of drinking alcohol. We should not drink intoxicating drunk; we should not use colour to anyone forcefully and we should not forget that Holi is a festival of the triumph of good over evil. We must try to wash away all the evils in our hearts along with the colours and allow the colour of love to stay there forever and ever. This is the true spirit of Holi.

– Md Intekhab

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

Holi Hai! Bura Na Mano Holi Hai!

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Vinod Dixit

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March 19, 2019

The chant of Holi Hai! Holi Hai, perhaps, is meant to urge everybody to disremember the social divisions of the ladder in all its forms and let essential playfulness reign. Holi is celebrated the day after the full moon. It is a two-day festival and is synonymous with harvest and prosperity. This is one festival that truly depicts the composite essence of not only India but the whole sub-continent is Holi. It is not just a festival of colours but a celebration of life itself. It is mostly referred to as for everyone, who loves each other to forget all enemies. It is one of those unique occasions when the bright colours demolish all the social barriers. Without harmony, there can’t be peace. Holi falls in the spring season which is a favourite to everyone. Human harmony with the self, nature, fellow beings, and with the society is the basis of universal peace and happiness. Moreover, Holi is celebrated to commemorate the Hindu mythological tale of Prahlada emerging unscathed from the flames despite being drawn into the fire by demoness Holika.

Long ago, there was an Asura king named Hiranyakashipu and he had a son, Prahlad – a holy spirit and highly devoted to God. Prahlad’s devotion enraged Hiranyakashipu and he planned to kill his own son. He asked her sister Holika, who was immune to fire, to sit in fire taking Prahlad in her lap. Fortunately, Prahlad, who was blessed by Lord, was saved and Holika was burnt to ashes. This gave birth to the festival of Holi. It dissolves social differences and brings people together. In fact, Holika Dahan, a day before Dhulandi, symbolises the bonfire of all ill-feeling. The message of egalitarianism marks this festival and distinguishes it from others.

A festival that is all about colours also brings along with it the spirit of joy, love, peace, and enthusiasm in our hearts. It is an amalgamation of old-age traditions, unique customs and modern parties, dance, and food. It is said that Akbar was very fond of Holi and played it with not only his courtiers but also the masses, for which he would come out of his palace. That was the day even a commoner could put colours on the Emperor of India. Even a zealot like Aurangzeb did not stop people from celebrating Holi on the streets.

Holi experiences differ from city to city in India. Holi gives us to forgive even our enemies and play with them, celebrate with them and make friends with them. I would like to quote Sahir Ludhianvi from Meri Pehli Holi: “Zindagi Ke Her Rang Ko Chand Lamhaat Mein Dekh Liya/Meri Pehli Holi Ne Mujhe Falsafana Bana Diya” (I saw all colours of life in a few moments/ My very first Holi made me a philosopher). Holi is the time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colours and liveliness of spring. The strictness of the social structure in terms of age, sex, status, and caste is loosened. Some of the biggest celebrations take place in the temples of Vrindavan, a town in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where, according to legend, the Hindu god Krishna played Holi with his consort Radha. Like the colours of a rainbow, that are different yet together they reflect beauty, may this festival bring together all the colours of India’s diversity in a rainbow of unity. The festival of Holi in a spiritual sense stands for the victory of virtues over vices, light over darkness, mind over matter, subtle over the gross, love over hatred, and divinity over the demonic. Don’t we think our lives will be enriched with harmony by making our societies peaceful with happiness all around us?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Letters to the Editor: March 19, 2019

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Web Team

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March 19, 2019

Play safe Holi, love yourself and others

Holi is known as the festival of colours and love which is celebrated by everyone with joy. Traditionally, Rang wali Holi was called dhulandi and it was played only with colours derived from plants. People used to greet and visit everyone’s houses with sweets. Bhaang was served as a Prasad. However, for the last some years, people have forgotten the essence of Holi i.e. the triumph of good over evil. Toxic colours have replaced their natural derivatives and people enjoy applying them to animals as well. These toxic colours can cause skin rashes in humans and can also cause eye damage. Animals have a very sensitive skin; these colours cause itching, it can damage the eyes of the animals and it can cause death if the animal tries to lick the colour off their fur. If you wish to celebrate Holi with animals, do so by feeding them clean water and good food. Also, please don’t drink and drive this Holi.

Play safe Holi. Love yourself. Love others.

C.K. Subramaniam

Let’s play a safe Holi!

Festivals in India are a reflection of the country’s cultural and religious richness. Holi is one such important festival. Holi, the festival of colours, is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of all Hindu festivals. However, it has been observed that the residential societies waste a lot of water while celebrating this festival.

People should remember that the festival of Holi is about spreading joy. Forcing the rituals on people who do not want to participate in the festivities is wrong. A celebration for some should not turn into a nightmare for others. Holi gives us the message of friendship and goodwill. On this occasion, we forget our old quarrels with people and mix with one another freely. At least for a day, we forget social distinctions completely. On Holi, there is no difference between the rich and the poor. Holi gives us great joy. It is a happy occasion when we forget our anxieties. Some people also sing vulgar songs, use abusive language, and abuse women too. We should celebrate Holi in a decent way.

Jubel D’Cruz

Strange! Only women are allowed to play Holi in this village

We all know that Holi is the festival of love, happiness, and colour. Everyone on this grand day plays with colour and celebrates the occasion with full zeal and enthusiasm. However, in a bizarre incident, there is a village where only women are allowed to play Holi. We are talking about a unique tradition that has been going on for many years in village ‘Kundra’ in Hamirpur, UP, in which children are not allowed to play Holi and only women have the power to play with colours. According to the village, it was decided that all the women of the village would celebrate this festival of Holi with all ritual and all men would go out from the village on that day. The women will celebrate this festival with great fanfare and go to the temples and perform darshan too.

M A Qasmi

May the festival of colours brighten the lives of all!

India is a multilingual country and communal fabric of the nation is what binds the citizens together. Different festivals of all communities celebrated irrespective of caste and creed propagate peace and unity among all. Holi, the festival of colours and bonfire has special importance as it signifies the victory of good over evil which teaches us to fight for survival till we are successful be it any goal in life. However, the festival like any other has been commercialised of late which calls for caution. The citizens should behave rationally and festivities should not be celebrated at the expense of environment.

Thousands of tons of wood are used in ‘Holika’ fire celebrated on every road corner of the country which should give way to community celebrations collectively that protects deforestation. Every tree cut should be replaced by double the number of plantation for a greener environment. Burning wood pyre causes air pollution that can be minimised by low key celebrations as a mark of tokenism. The world is facing water shortage on account of rising population and the top priority should be using water for basic needs like drinking. Wasting water on festivities and enjoyment is a crime that needs to be avoided. Harmful chemicals that have adverse affect on health should be banned and people should only play with organic colours that are eco-friendly.

Festivals unite people and unity strengthens our country. Every festival provides us an opportunity to not just forget our differences and hatred but celebrations sow the seed of Peace, Happiness, and Prosperity!

Happy Holi to all!

SN Kabra

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Holi, the festival of colours

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Jayanthy Subramaniam

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March 19, 2019

It is really heartening to see that Mumbai is ready to celebrate Holi without wasting water. The state of Maharashtra may face a water shortage as the temperature may shoot up very high this year. The citizens decided to celebrate dry Holi with natural colours while making it an eco-friendly Holi. Water is really precious as Maharashtra as well as other countries are facing an extreme shortage of water.

Holi is the festival of colour and celebrated all over the country with much gaiety. However, Holi is no longer only fun. The celebration should ensure that there is no harm committed against women. The main cause of hooliganism, throwing harmful chemicals and balloons and molesting women in the guise of applying colour have slowed down during Holi. The festival-like Holi should bring people together and enforce harmony in the society.

It is an eye-opener and it prepares us to celebrate Rang de Holi in a simple and possibly way without causing harm to anyone. Holi is a festival of colours and both the young and the old enjoy playing colours at each other. But this time it was to apply caution and play safe Holi. Herbal colours are available in the market in plenty of shops instead of colours mixed with chemicals, which cause harm and irritation in the body. Colours contain heavy metal that can cause eye infection if applied dangerously near the eyes.

Colour paints especially black and red stick to the body and take more than a week to get out of the skin. Prevention is better than cure is correct. Water-based colours go into system easily and make Holi a health hazard. Water Balloons thrown inside the trains and moving vehicles can cause eye-sight loss and serious injuries. The black colour has lead oxide that is most harmful and it causes blindness, skin allergies, etc. It is better to have a safer Holi instead of risking life for a few hours of dangerous enjoyment.

During Holi, colour speaks the loudest as Holi is treated as the festival of colours. It is notable that this year’s Holi will be celebrated with pomp just like every other year but with caution. The eco-friendly colours were made of vegetable pigments. Yellow is extracted from marigold and turmeric, pink from beetroot, orange from annatto seeds and blue from indigo flowers. Thus, the need for making the colours with chemicals in the past is turned to using colours from vegetable pigments. Moreover, water is not wasted much as awareness about saving water campaign going rounds. Safe and enjoyable Holi sends the message that we are all following the guidelines and the announcements made in the past in the best way possible and celebrate festivities with much fervour.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

India mourns Manohar Parrikar’s death, BJP proposes Pramod Sawant as CM

By

Vaidehi Taman

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March 18, 2019

Hours after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s death on Sunday evening, Goa got in political storm. BJP is hell bent on bringing their party man as his successor, and alliance is not compromising at this time as they were there for only Parrikar as candidate but not BJP as party. Manohar Parrikar belonged to the rare category of down to earth accessible Politicians. He was the one BJP politician after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is admired by all, respective of political differences. Nitin Gadkari landed in Panaji and held overnight meetings with alliance partners to decide on a successor and save the coalition government as the opposition Congress staked claim to power for the second time in two days. In 2017 Goa polls, when the Congress emerged as the largest party in a hung verdict, it was Nitin Gadkari who had negotiated alliances to establish a BJP-led coalition with Manohar Parrikar – then Union Defence Minister – as Chief Minister. Manohar Parrikar died after a yearlong battle with cancer. He led a government with allies like the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party and Independents. The BJP-led coalition government has a razor-thin majority after the death of lawmaker Francis D’Souza and the resignation of two Congress lawmakers. The strength of the Goa Assembly stands at 37 instead of 40. The Congress has 14 lawmakers and BJP has 13.

Meanwhile, Sudin Dhavalikar demanded the Chief Minister’s post. He supported Manohar Parrikar, because he was BJP’s tallest leader in Goa, as well as the most acceptable leader for the top job among the party’s allies. He kept the fractious coalition running, even when he was making public appearances with a nasal tube and supported by aides, at the peak of his battle with pancreatic cancer. The BJP lawmakers have suggested the names of Vishwajit Rane and Pramod Sawant for CM candidature. But during a meeting with Nitin Gadkari, Sudin Dhavalikar expressed his willingness to become the Chief Minister of Goa. He said that he has sacrificed many times by supporting the BJP, and now he has put in his demand but the BJP will not agree to that. Goa Forward Party chief and State Minister Vijay Sardesai also sees himself as a candidate for the top job. There are many contenders from alliance who wants to be CM of the state but BJP is trading on who so ever can be poached to retain power. On the other hand, Congress has majority and if they succeed in convincing their stand they can retain to power.

There are strong chances that, Dr. Pramod Sawant who is the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, can by the CM candidate of BJP for Goa. Dr. Pramod Sawant obtained a Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery degree from the Ganga Education Society’s Ayurvedic Medical College in Kolhapur and a postgraduate degree of Master of Social Work from Tilak Maharashtra University at Pune. Sawant’s wife Sulakshana Sawant is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and currently the President of the Goa unit of the BJP Mahila Morcha.

No doubt Parrikar was workaholic hard taskmaster, and person who put the State on the development map of the country. And whatever differences he might have had with BJP leaders were only because he was “straight forward”. He sacrificed the post of Defence Minister to return as CM of Goa. Without him, the BJP floundered — from 21 seats they came down to 12 seats. It was on the insistence of the alliance partners that he came back to take the post. But now he is no more, and the supporters who lent hand for him are on U-turn mode. There are possibilities that the independent candidates may switch their sides. In such scenario BJP should gracefully take back seat and sit in opposition. Congress government too equally contributed to the development of Goa. Today Goa is most secular and greatly popular tourist place just because of the efforts of respective political parties in power of their tenure.

Parrikar was born in 1955 in Mapusa, in then Portugese-ruled Goa. It was only after Goa’s liberation in 1962 where the right wing politicians played pivotal role that the RSS took root in the State. In a short period he left his mark as arguably our best Defense Minister. A simple man with Spartan habits Parrikar was efficient and capable and was also imbued with a never say die spirit. He died as he wished to, in harness. The nation has few politicians who can hold a candle to the four times Goa CM who also served as the country’s Defence Minister. BJP has lost a great leader just before the general elections is very sad indeed. In the 1970s, the teenage Parrikar joined the RSS. After completing a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Bombay, he resumed working with the organisation. At just 26, he was Sanghchalak of Mapusa. It was the RSS that pushed Parrikar to the BJP to counter Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. Parrikar’s sangfroid self often hid the astute politician he was. In 1994, for the first time, the BJP sent four legislators to the Goa Assembly. Parrikar was one of them along with the current Union Minister Shripad Naik. The parallel run of Parrikar and Naik ended here. Parrikar soon outstripped Naik, who was the BJP State President from 1990 to 1999, to become the first BJP CM of Goa in 2000. Naik left State politics to become the first BJP MP from the State in 1999. Once he took over the centre stage in the State, Parrikar never conceded the position to anyone else in the party. Even as the Defence Minister in 2014, he would often spend time in the State, visiting Goa every weekend. One of his political achievements was to develop the Goa Model of the BJP, positioning the right wing party away from narrow Hindutva bracket to a larger and more inclusive Goan identity. He even managed to make the Catholic Church a BJP ally in the State. He was known for his manipulative politics. He kept files on every politician in the State including those in his own party and the opposition. His own Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was heard in audiotapes claiming that Parrikar has the critical Rafale files carrying critical proof against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier this year, in January, Congress president Rahul Gandhi met Parrikar in Goa a day after tweeting about the “audio files” that he claimed gave the Chief Minister powers over Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

We all have lot of respect for Manohar Parrikar as he is one of the educated politicians with incredible qualifications. Unfortunately, in the recent past he became tool in BJP’s dirty politics. BJP with just 12 seats in Goa assembly claimed to form Government. All the illegal poaching of MLAs to form Government was done to make Parrikar as CM. He should have stepped out and stood for what is right. The poaching of MLAs is going to be done throughout India for the rest of our life and Parrikar would be the trendsetter for the same. There were so many controversies on Rafale and everything happened right under his nose while he was Defense Minister. His death was imminent and was expected. He could have done what is right. At least he would have voice about it. Any ways, this is not enough to refute his integrity. At the end, we lost one credible politician who was rarest of the rare. May his soul rest in peace.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Pramod Sawant – BJP’s new CM choice for Goa

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2019

Without Manohar Parrikar, the alliance became tough for the BJP; in an overnight meet after the death of Parrikar, the Goa BJP allies’ talk went tough. As the BJP struggled to keep its flock together, the Goa Congress wrote to Governor Mridula Sinha for the second time in 48 hours, staking claim to form the government stating that after Parrikar’s death, the BJP has no allies and the Congress, being the single largest party, is entitled to form the next government. However, in spite of all the drill and tough bargains, somewhere BJP nailed it in their favour with keeping Dr. Pramod Sawant at the front for the new Chief Ministerial post while throwing a pound of flesh to their key allies and accepting their demand for the Deputy CM’s posts.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said, “Manohar Parrikar was the leader of common man and as the Chief Minister of Goa, he did a great job. Even after being the CM, he lived a very simple life. His way of work was aggressive and productive. Inspired by his dedication towards people and politics, PM Narendra Modi appointed him as the Defence Minister. The death of Parrikar will not only affect the BJP in Goa but also on a national level. Congress is politicising the death of Parrikar which is not good. Congress leaders should behave like mature politicians.”

In the late night meeting of the BJP and its allies, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party’s (MGP) Sudin Dhavalikar insisted on the Chief Minister’s post, according to BJP lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly Michael Lobo. There was also a political logjam after MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar demanded the Chief Minister’s post but the BJP wanted someone as the successor from their own party.

Dr. Pramod Sawant, who is the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, represents the Sanquelim constituency in the Goa Legislative Assembly. BJP lawmaker Michael Lobo told Afternoon Voice, “BJP has come up with a good choice but the alliance parties too need to be agreed on the choice that party makes.”

Meanwhile, Congress’s Digambar Kamat, a former chief minister, has been in the middle of buzz after his sudden trip to Delhi amid reports that he was being persuaded by the BJP. However, he denied that he was in Delhi to meet BJP leadership. While speaking to Afternoon Voice Digambar Kamat asserted, “There was no question of meeting anybody, these are just speculations but my programme in Delhi was decided 2-3 days ago. I don’t get any offers from BJP; these are the planted stories by vested interests. I’m not bothered about the leadership or the Chief Minister’s post; I am always with my party and would work as long as possible.”

In the 2017 Goa polls, when the Congress emerged as the largest party in a hung verdict, it was Nitin Gadkari who had negotiated alliances to establish a BJP-led coalition with Manohar Parrikar – the then Union Defence Minister – as the Chief Minister. Manohar Parrikar died on Sunday night after a yearlong battle with cancer. He led the government with allies like the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party, and Independents. The BJP-led coalition government has a razor-thin majority after the death of lawmaker Francis D’Souza and the resignation of two Congress lawmakers. The strength of the Goa Assembly stands at 37 instead of 40. The Congress has 14 lawmakers and BJP has 13 in the assembly.

Former Goa CM and Congress leader Pratapsingh Rane expressed, “As far as the current political scenario of Goa is concerned, we are sure of forming the government as we have the required majority. We also wanted other regional political parties to support us so that a leader from our party can become the Chief Minister of the state. Our leaders have been Chief Ministers in the past and put the state on a path of development.”