Team Herald
PANJIM: The cabinet expansion appears to have turned into quite a challenge for Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who has to select three MLAs from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Independents and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
There are three positions vacant in the cabinet for which the ruling party MLAs have been clamouring. Will the Chief Minister induct his party members and make his government fully a BJP one or will he induct one of the Independents and MGP legislator in his council of ministers remains to be seen.
The Chief Minister on Friday hinted that the cabinet expansion and allocation of portfolios to his colleagues would take place by Monday.
With Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai been elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, the names of Tivim BJP MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar, four-time Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar of the MGP are being specualted as claimants for the three berths.
Halankar, Jennifer Monserrate and Lourenco have been nominated on the panel of Presiding Officers by the Speaker and there is speculation whether they would be inducted in the cabinet. In case, the Chief Minister decides to induct Halarnkar and Lourenco, then the duo will have to resign from the panel of Presiding Officers.
The Chief Minister may choose Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza and Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, who wrested the seat for the party for the first time. Either Lourenco or Tuenkar, both from Salcete taluka may find a berth in the Cabinet.
Unlike the 2017 polls, the BJP has representation in all 12 talukas this time. In all probability the expansion may see new faces in the Sawant cabinet.
A majority within the BJP is strongly opposed to the induction of Dhavalikar in the cabinet and have shown their preference to Arolkar. There are also strong reports that BJP leaders are trying to get Arolkar to quit MGP and join BJP. Will Arolkar desert the MGP is also remains to be seen.
—
Cabinet expansion, portfolio expansion by April 4: Sawant
Tanavade says cabinet expansion could be delayed
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the cabinet expansion and allocation of portfolios among the Ministers will be held by Monday.
“Portfolio distribution will be done by Monday,” Sawant told reporters on the sidelines of an event at Dona Paula. He also hinted that the cabinet expansion will also be held by Monday.
However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, who was also present for the event, said that the Chief Minister may distribute portfolios by Monday but the cabinet expansion could be delayed.
The Chief Minister along with eight BJP MLAs were sworn in on March 28 leaving berths for the induction of three more Ministers. Goa can have a maximum of 12 Ministers.
A day after the swearing-in ceremony, a brief two-day Assembly session was held wherein the Chief Minister presented the State budget while, the Ministers attended the session without portfolios. All the Ministers have been allotted cabins in the Minister’s Block but five days after being sworn in they are still awaiting portfolios.
Though the reason for the delay in the allocation of portfolios is not known, it is learnt that some Minister are vying for plum departments.
Though cabinet expansion and distribution of portfolios to Minister is the prerogative of the Chief Minister, Tanavade said that the cabinet expansion might be delayed.
