Special Correspondent
Panaji: There are strong indications that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may initiate action against Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude following his recent controversial statement alleging corruption in the department of tribal welfare held by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant himself.
According to highly placed party sources, the state unit of BJP is in contact with the party’s central leadership and is awaiting its directions. The sources said that most of the senior party leaders from Goa, including many state BJP Core Committee members, are of the opinion that disciplinary action should be initiated against Gaude.
Incidentally, a faction of the Scheduled Tribes community in the state is supporting Gaude and is against his expulsion from the state cabinet.
Meanwhile, there are also speculations about potential cabinet reshuffle, which has been inordinately delayed.
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar declined to comment when asked by the media whether he would be inducted into the cabinet. “On the current issue, it is the party that will decide”, he said.
The critical meeting scheduled among Chief Minister Sawant, state president of BJP Damu Naik and minister Gaude has been once again postponed due to undisclosed reasons. The meet was scheduled to be held on Friday. Earlier, the meeting was scheduled to take place on May 29. It will now be held on June 2.
The state BJP president, who is presently in New Delhi, is expected to meet the central leaders on Saturday on the recent development in the BJP and government.
