Author: Team Admin

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: A fresh political row erupted within Goa’s Congress circles after former Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar questioned the loyalty of sitting Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, suggesting that D’Costa had “misguided” Congress leaders and Goans while inaugurating projects sanctioned during his tenure. Reacting sharply, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Girish Chodankar hit back at Kavlekar, branding him a “Gaddar” (traitor) for having defected to the BJP. “A man who forgets his roots and ideology, and who sold himself to the BJP while sitting as Leader of Opposition, has no moral right to question the loyalty of our MLA Altone…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: In a strong push for regulatory enforcement, the North Goa Rent-a-Cab Association, along with All Goa Rent-a-Cab licence holders, met officials from the Enforcement North and RTO Department, Panjim, to press for urgent action against illegal private vehicles operating as taxis. The association also raised concerns over pending permit renewals, vehicle replacements, and the need to convert regular taxi number plates to Rent-a-Cab plates for vehicles legally operating on hire. Association president Nitesh Chodankar said the sector is losing business due to unlicensed vehicles flouting the rules. “We want a level playing field for genuine operators who…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The stage is ready for the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will unfold in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025. The festival promises a spectacular celebration of world cinema, creativity, and storytelling, transforming Goa into a vibrant hub of artistic exchange and cinematic excellence. This year’s edition will feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, and 44 Asian Premieres, offering audiences a rich tapestry of global narratives and visual artistry. IFFI 2025 will host three major international competitions representing films from five continents, bringing together 32…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), in collaboration with the Government of Goa, has announced a statewide Aakash Kandil (lantern-making) competition as part of the celebrations for the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025. The initiative aims to highlight Goa’s vibrant cultural traditions while encouraging creativity and community participation through artistic lantern designs. The competition is open to all residents of Goa, with a maximum of 600 entries accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, limited to 50 entries per taluka. Each participant will receive a ₹500 honorarium as a token of appreciation. The last date…

Team Goemkarponn CALANGUTE: Expressing concern over changing tourist trends, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has said that Goa needs to focus on attracting more foreign visitors while discouraging tourists who create nuisance in local areas. “We don’t want tourists who cause trouble to locals and in the locality. We want the return of foreign visitors to boost the State’s tourism like it was before,” Lobo said, highlighting that the number of international tourists visiting Goa has seen a significant decline in recent years. The former Tourism Minister urged the government to implement strategic measures to revive international tourism, which once formed…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Utpal Parrikar has hit out at the growing number of spas in the capital city, criticising the Panaji MLA for failing to take responsibility for the trend. “The MLA of the constituency cannot run away from responsibility,” Parrikar said, while also questioning whether certain ongoing projects in the city were being executed to serve “commercial interests” rather than public welfare. Announcing his plans for the upcoming Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections, Parrikar said he intends to field candidates in all 30 wards, signalling a strong political move ahead of the polls. Commenting on the…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel, IAS, has expressed uncertainty over the feasibility of holding the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections on December 13, revealing that his office had earlier formally urged the State government to defer the polls until the completion of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the media after an all-party meeting on the SIR process, Goel stated that the final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published only on February 7, 2026, indicating that conducting elections before that date may lead to discrepancies in voter data. “We had advised the…