He is quite like the famous song attributed wrongly to Goa “Galyat sankali sonya chi, Hi pori kona chi” (With a golden chain around her neck, Whose lovely daughter is she). Feared alike by BJP, loathed by local Congress leaders in native Calangute constituency, coveted by INC, AAP and TMC alike but which side is Michael Vincent Lobo going to be on? Nobody knows. All that pollsters do know is that just like 2007 was BJP-turned-INC Digambar Kamat’s Election, 2022 is turning out to be Michael’s

A local TV network tweets “Min. Michael Lobo boards the flight once again destination unknown” sums up the predicament of Goa. Earlier this week, Calangute MLA and Minister Lobo announced publicly that he in Calangute, his wife Delilah in Siolim and former BJP turned Congressman Sudhir Khanolkar from Mapusa will contest and win the elections. Earlier last week, BJP turned INC strongman and aspirant from Aldona Tarak Arolkar straightaway drove from his induction ceremony to share the stage with Lobo in another political gig. With two of his backed candidates joining INC from BJP, he at loggerheads with parent BJP for fielding his wife from Siolim, Michael Lobo is literally at Congress’ doorstep.  

Michael’s cryptic messages stating BJP may not give him a ticket, BJP stalwarts including Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis, B L Santhosh and CR Ravi speed dialling him daily, Lobo stands between BJP’s return and even crossing double-digit in seats. Despite a few envious leaders, BJP knows that it is only Lobo who can help it retain Bardez – the Congress turned BJP bastion in North Goa where Lobo controls fortunes of 7 of 8 seats.

But the Local Congressmen from Calangute including former MLA Agnelo Fernandes, dislodged aspirant Joseph Sequeira are not liking it as Lobo’s entry would mean a political graveyard for them in their own backyard. Weak and have-been Congressmen banking on loyalty-based-entitlement is gunning for Lobo on social media on media platform threatening mass exodus. The only problem is Lobo holds the aces for more than what they are threatening. Congress awaits with bated breath as his entry would trigger the party’s return in North.