Age no bar for greed, proves Deu
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 02 December 1998 12:03 ISTDeu Gunaji Mandrekar, the 75-year old ailing politician from Goa, could be the model for ambitious politicians in the country today. He cannot walk straight or talk clearly, but is a relieved man today for fulfilling his life-time ambition of becoming the minister.
His oath-taking ceremony at the Cabo Raj Bhavan on Monday, thanks to Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi's vision, was a real mockery of democracy. He was escorted to the dais by his nephew and the security personnel from the car, which was driven straight to the backside of the shamiana.
Expressing helplessness in pronouncing the oath, he requested governor Lt Gen (Retd) J F R Jacob to allow his nephew to take oath on his behalf. As it is not allowed, the nephew then prompted the words, most of which Mandrekar could not enunciate. His oath was a general mumble interrupted with loud bellows to clear the throat and a few clear words picked up by the sound system.
The governor considered it valid while chief minister Luizinho Faleiro, the youngest one among all, considers Mandrekar fit to run the administration. Being a scheduled caste, he has been now given the most important portfolio of social welfare.
Creating a record in the history of Goa Assembly by defecting three times in one term till date, he feels his "efforts" have finally borne fruits. After remaining faithful to the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party for the first three terms since 1977, he defected to join the Congress in 1994, on a condition that he would be made the minister.
But Pratapsing Rane, former Congress chief minister, made him only the deputy speaker. He then joined the Wilfred de Souza camp to revolt and form the coalition government in July, but was still retained in the same position. Obviously, he then once again defected along with Dayanand Narvekar, the deputy chief minister now, who has made him the minister.
How would he run the ministry, however, is still a mystery considering his permanent illness and non-responding age.
