PANJIM: It has been a win-win situation and a dream come true for five MLAs-elect, who were sworn in as ministers in the Goa cabinet, all for the first time. Of these five, three will be entering the Legislative Assembly for the first time.
Among the nine ministers sworn in, along with the chief minister, two are from the BJP, three from the Goa Forward Party (GFP), two from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the rest two are Independents.While Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte have been MLAs earlier, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Vinod Palyekar and Govind Gaude are freshers and new to the political scenario. All three new faces emerged as giant killers after thumping the BJP top brass.
Palyekar and Salgaonkar before joining Goa Forward had earlier worked as panch member and North Goa Zilla Parishad chairman respectively.
“Developing Saligao will be my main priority and first I will ensure that basics are in place. I will work on protecting the heritage sites and natural springs which have been neglected and also develop the roads which are currently in bad condition,” Salgaonkar said.Social activist turned politician, Govind Gaude, who contested as an Independent from Priol emerged the winner dethroning MGP strong face Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar. “Though I am a new candidate and a first time minister I have the experience of working for the people. With the help of BJP I will develop and fulfill all the promises made to the people of Priol. People have put faith in me and I will work had to protect their interests,” Gaude said.
With the induction of these first time ministers, the Chief Minister will have to shoulder a heavy burden for at least a year until things settle down and the government functions smoothly.
Sardesai and Khaunte, who have spent five years in the opposition but are now ministers are known to study a subject thoroughly and can grasp matters easily, but would still need some time to get used to the responsibilities, and in tune with the work pattern of the ‘workaholic’ chief minister.
