In a rare reshuffle of ministerial rankings that did not alter the portfolios of any of the ministers, Sawant promoted and demoted ministers in his cabinet signalling that he is in command and he will decide who deserves what rank. The ministers who had the largest falls are Waste Management minister Michael Lobo and Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate. The former has slid from number seven to the last position of 12, and the latter from number four – after the two deputy chief ministers – to ten. The minister to gain the most in this reshuffle has been Panchayat Mauvin Godinho, who now occupies the number 4 position, just after the two deputy chief ministers.
Sawant began his innings as Chief Minister in March 2018 with a showing of strength when he broke the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) to bolster the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) numbers in the Assembly. Less than four months later he performed a major surgery on the Congress when he practically amputated the party’s limbs by slashing its strength in the Assembly from 15 to five, taking into the Bharatiya Janata Party 10 MLAs and detaching the alliance crutches that were propping up his government. Goa Forward Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents that had been flexing their muscles in the government were dropped. Sawant, by his deeds was showing that he was ready to stamp his mark as Chief Minister, and that he would be no pushover during the term ahead. With strengthened numbers in the Assembly, much was expected but the initial gloss rubbed off over the months as issues demanding immediate attention tumbled out keeping the government and the chief minister otherwise occupied.
Merely a reshuffle in the rankings of the ministers is rare. A ministerial reshuffle usually comprises the induction of new ministers and dropping of some that results in a change in rankings, or a redistribution of the portfolios. Neither of this has occurred in the current instance which indicates that this was a conscious attempt to send out a message to his team of ministers that they have to perform and also tow the party line on matters. Indications are that Lobo’s comments that former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar did not take anyone into confidence before permitting the app based taxi service to begin operations precipitated the reshuffle. The Bharatiya Janata Party that is known for the discipline of its members was unlikely to accept this comment from their own party man without reacting.
The big question now is whether with no change in portfolios, the performance of the government will improve or will it remain the same? This may spur the ministers who have moved up a few rungs to do better and those sent down the ladder to pull up their socks. That remains to be seen, but why not reward the performers with additional portfolios or more responsibilities? It is after all the Chief Minister’s prerogative to decide who forms part of his cabinet and what portfolio that minister gets. Yet, a reshuffle of the portfolios may not be so simple an exercise for the Chief Minister to undertake. With six of the 12 ministers having been accommodated in the cabinet following defections during the course of the term, there are promises to be honoured and at this juncture the chief minister may not want to rock the boat. While keep a steady hand on the helm, he has sent out the message to his cabinet colleagues.
