CM gets green signal from BJP’s central leaders
Panaji: The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has given the green light for a major shakeup of the Pramod Sawant-led Goa cabinet.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met senior BJP leaders, including Shah and other key Union ministers in New Delhi on Monday. The discussions have accelerated plans to drop certain ministers and induct new faces into the state cabinet.
In a notable development, Sawant was accompanied by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo during his meeting with Shah.
“Discussed key developmental initiatives and political matters related to the state of Goa,” Sawant said after the meeting.
The BJP high command has reportedly authorised Sawant not only to make changes in the cabinet but also to redistribute portfolios among the current ministers.
This means existing portfolios of some ministers are likely to undergo a shakeup. Some major portfolios may also be swapped between the ministers.
Talks of a reshuffle intensified following the removal of Priol MLA Govind Gaude from the cabinet on June 18.
Sources indicated that assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar is expected to be inducted into the cabinet in Gaude’s place—a move aimed at maintaining representation for the scheduled tribe (ST) community, as both leaders belong to the ST category.
During his visit to the national capital, Sawant also visited Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, who is undergoing medical treatment in Delhi. CM interacted with Sequeira for more than an hour. The Nuvem MLA is likely to be discharged later this week.
Among the names likely to be inducted in the cabinet are former chief minister Digambar Kamat and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo or his wife Delilah Lobo all of whom were part of the group of eight Congress MLAs who joined the BJP in September 2022.
Sources said that the BJP leadership has preference for Delilah to be in the cabinet. Speculations are that Lobo will be given the transport portfolio among others so as to resolve the taxi issue before the next assembly elections.
Sequeira, also a member of that group, was inducted into the cabinet in November 2023, replacing the then PWD minister Nilesh Cabral.
Gaude’s exit from the cabinet followed his allegations of corruption within the department of tribal welfare, which is currently overseen by the Chief Minister himself.
The BJP leadership is also in the process of persuading a sitting minister to take over the role of Speaker, as the position will become vacant once Tawadkar joins the cabinet.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar were also in New Delhi on Monday.
