The coalition partners like Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Independents- who took everyone by surprise by forging a alliance with Manohar Parrikar led BJP- have taken a centre stage during their hundred-day rule, leaving aside BJP and MGP -- the parties which ruled the State during last tenure.

As we all know, the government formation was embroiled in major controversy- when Congress- which emerged as the single largest party with 17 MLAs and support of two Independents- failed to stake its claim for government. On the other hand, Parrikar displayed impressive political acumen and skill in forming a coalition with MGP, GFP and Independents. 

Right from the day of swearing in on March 14, the coalition were the talk of the town when they managed to get hold over 60 per cent of the State Cabinet with major portfolio’s like town and country planning, revenue, agriculture, public works department, transport, tourism, sports, information technology, water resources, fisheries, housing, rural development and art and culture. 

Ministerial berth to its elected MLAs and key portfolios for them was the ‘pre-condition’ set by GFP and MGP for joining hands with BJP to form the next State government. 

The current government has five new and young faces as first time Ministers, of which it is a maiden tenure for three legislators. Vijay Sardessai (GFP), Rohan Khaunte (IND), Jayesh Salgaoncar (GFP), Vinod Palyekar (GFP) and Govind Gawade (IND) - are the new faces in the Parrikar chaired cabinet.

Young and enthusiastic Ministers were seen quite active during the hundred day’s period, when TCP Minister Sardesai, Revenue Minister Khaunte and Water Resources Minister Palyekar made surprise visits to their respective departments initiating stern action against the ‘late lateef’s’. Several government employees were placed under suspension for their lethargic attitude towards work.

The move, however, did go down well with the government employees association. 

As we do a postmortem of first hundreds days of coalition in action, Minister for Revenue and IT Khaunte tops the ranking, who, rather than focusing on making mere announcement, brought things into reality. 

He launched e-portal taking all revenue services online and to the door-step of the public. Steps are now initiated to evict Mahiti Ghar’s following complaints from public, a issue which Khaunte, himself had taken up several times when in opposition.

In a span of less than three months, Khaunte under his leadership managed to draft Goa StartUp policy with a focus on promotion of IT startups and the concept IT Anywhere. 

Minister for Town and Country Planning and Agriculture Sardesai and WRD and Fisheries Minister Palyekar, too made several efforts to understand their new departments. 

Sardesai, through the common minimum programme (CMP) released earlier this week- that reflects the aspirations of GFP, announced formation of new Regional Plan 2030 through a special concept called Transfer of Developmental Rights (TDR). 

The first time MLA and Minister Palyekar showed keen interest in the State’s contentious Mhadei water diversion issue- which is currently fought before Tribunal between Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Minister, who attended the Mhadei hearing in person, also wrote to the Union Ministry for further extension to the tribunal, the term of whose is ending in August.  

Even in the fisheries sector, he announced to provide fish to locals at subsidized rates, ban on fishing using LED, etc.