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Goa's political battle gets personal

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Revenge politics appears to be the flavour in Goa these days, with the state's unstable political structure being the major irritant for its politicians. The state's officialdom, however, is getting victimised in the bargain.

The unprecedented clash between Congress Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro and his predecessor Dr Wilfred de Souza over vacating the CM's official bungalow at Altinho has cost four police personnel, including the district SP, their jobs.

While rejecting Dr "Willy"'s intimation that he would vacate the bungalow by the month end, Faleiro served an eviction notice on his predecessor and also withdrew his security and cars apart from disconnecting his telephone lines.

But Faleiro's attempt to paste the eviction notice on the bungalow's walls was foiled by the police at Dr "Willy"'s official bungalow as well as at his Saligao home.

Though the issue was resolved later, with top bureaucrats advising the chief minister not to take such steps, Faleiro expressed his frustration by suspending one PSI and one police constable while also transferring the district SP and yet another constable, without informing the IGP though.

"Dr "Willy" was misusing the state machinery and its telephones beyond limit," Faleiro claimed.

Rushing to Governor, Lieutenant General (retd) J F R Jacob after receiving the eviction notice, Dr de Souza managed to foil Faleiro's attempt to evict him. Whether he will succeed in rocking the chief minister's boat remains to be seen.

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