SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has ruled out the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle after the Zilla Parishad polls, and in doing so snubbed his own Minister Michael Lobo’s theory that such a move is in the offing. While the CM was right in calling Lobo’s “bluff”, where he missed the point was when he said that the “party will decide on the reshuffle”. Frankly, any cabinet reshuffle is when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet. It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister of the State or the Prime Minister of the Country and no minister or party leader can demand for it. The responsibility is given to the CM, as head of government, and it is he who has to decide his team of people, who will do justice to the portfolios and a berth in the Cabinet. Also, the Chief Minister’s statement clearly points to the fact that he is dependent on the party diktats and does not decide on the important matters like a reshuffle on his own Cabinet.
However, one has to agree that Michael Lobo went too far when he demanded for a Cabinet reshuffle and also dropping of a minister from the government. Worse still, Lobo went to the media stating that the reshuffle would happen and that he has already spoken to the Chief Minister on the matter. Instead of demanding the dropping others from Cabinet, Lobo needs to do justice to his own portfolios, especially the Waste Management Department, which he had sought and promised to make it work. The issues of Sonsoddo, Bainguinim, expansion of Saligao plant are pending for the last two years. Instead of clearing waste from Goa, does Lobo want to clean the Cabinet first?
While Lobo definitely overstepped the line in demanding a Cabinet reshuffle, one cannot ignore the fact that the Sawant Cabinet’s performance has been below par. Not many of the ministers are doing justice to their departments and as a result there is resentment in the party as well as amongst the people of the State. Portfolio’s like Tourism, PWD, Information Technology, Revenue, WRD, Fisheries, Urban Development, Art and Culture need better ministers at the helm. From a sagging economy, to foot-in-the-mouth ministers, to an uninspiring cabinet, Sawant has little to choose from as the bench-strength is also very weak. The irony is who does Sawant fall back on if he decides to drop ministers who are not performing or not accessible to people. For that matter, Lobo himself has failed to meet the expectations of the people.
The Sawant government has had to grapple with a talent deficit ever since he dropped Sudin Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte from the Cabinet in July last year. Sawant has had to retain many portfolios himself, including some key ones, and also give away some important ones to novices who ended up under-performing or embarrassing the government.
Another issue is that out of the BJP’s 27 MLAs, 13 are Congress turncoats and Sawant and the BJP have given them entry, mostly on some assurance of a Cabinet berth or Corporation. All have been accommodated with some post. Hence, Sawant has now put the ball in the party’s court to decide on reshuffle. So will the party decide for Sawant? But, it is not just the Chief Minister, the party too has failed miserably in grooming any talent in the government, and, if you look closely this can be seen in the party too. Perhaps it’s the result of the weak bench strength that leaves much to be desired in both the government and the party.
