Team Herald
PANJIM: Amid reports of discontent among the eight MLAs who had defected from the Congress, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday rubbished all reports that MLAs are ‘unhappy’ over not being accommodated in the State Cabinet or on any position in the government.
The party, however, remained non-committal on possible Cabinet berths to the new entrants.
Speaking to mediapersons after chairing party’s core committee meeting, the BJP’s National General Secretary and Goa Desk In-Charge C T Ravi said that there is no discontent among the eight MLAs and all are working together in strengthening the party.
“Reshuffle is not my work. The Chief Minister has power for it. If he wants he can do it. Only the party can give some suggestions. This issue was not discussed in the meeting today. My work is only to make the organisation strong,” he said.
“You are asking the right question to the wrong person about reshuffle. I am not aware if they (eight MLAs who joined BJP) were promised any post while joining BJP. You (media) want masala. I know that they are very happy in the BJP,” he said, while responding to questions with regards to news of few of the eight MLAs were unhappy about not being inducted into the Cabinet after joining the BJP in September.
Ravi said that all of them were present when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Goa, on December 11. “All eight MLAs are happy and satisfied,” he said.
“The BJP works for the happiness of people and not of any individual. It is not possible to satisfy every individual. Everyone works for the organisation and for building party. All the eight MLAs will be given responsibility in the organisation,” Ravi added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declined to comment on any possible reshuffle in the Cabinet even though there are possible rumours about induction of two out of eight MLAs into the Cabinet.
The Chief Minister and C T Ravi said that the meeting held on Tuesday had no discussion on Cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, sources informed that two ministers are likely to be dropped to accommodate the defectors.
In September, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldessai, Sankalp Amonkar, Rudolf Fernandes and Aleixo Sequeira had joined BJP by merging two-third of its legislative wing.
