NT Reporter Panaji
Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat will be sworn in as ministers on Thursday at noon, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.
Tawadkar said he will resign from his post as Speaker of the state legislative assembly on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, Aleixo Sequeira resigned from his cabinet post. He was the minister for environment, captain of ports, law and judiciary and legislative affairs. With his resignation, the two vacant cabinet berths will be filled by Tawadkar and Kamat.
The other cabinet post was vacant after Priol MLA Govind Gaude was dropped in June this year.
Meanwhile, Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, whose name is in the forefront to be the next Speaker, said that he never demanded anything in his political career.
Tawadkar said he wanted to complete his tenure as the Speaker; however, as per the party’s direction, “I am accepting the responsibility that the party wants to give me”. “I was happy as the Speaker. On March 29, 2022, I took charge. I wanted to continue with the post till the end of the term,” said Tawadkar. “But party also needs…I am not greater than the party. We are here because of the party. I am accepting the responsibility the party wants to give me. Since the last 27-28 years, I have been working for the party,” he said.
Stating that his induction into the cabinet will be an opportunity for him to serve the people of Goa, Margao MLA and former chief minister Kamat said his experience over the years will come handy. “I am thankful to God. He has given me this opportunity. I am thankful to the central leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda, BJP’s organising secretary B L Santhosh, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and state party president Damodar Naik,” Kamat said.
Sixty eight-year-old Sequeira denied health grounds for his resignation. “It has improved. But I am resigning due to personal reasons. And I think I will be relieved of a lot of responsibility that I have taken on my shoulders,” he said.
Sequeira said he has no problem with the party and will continue to be a member of BJP. “I have no issue with the party,” he said.
Responding to the sudden decision of resigning from his cabinet post, Sequeira said, “I was toying with the idea for some time. Ultimately, I decided to put in my papers.” Replying to a media query on his experience with BJP, he said, “It’s been a good experience. I have to give credit to the Chief Minister because he has treated me very well. I have no complaints.”
