PANJIM: The week-old Sawant government was expanded on Saturday with the induction of three Cabinet Ministers.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar, Tivim BJP MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai were administered oaths of office and secrecy by the Governor P S Shreedharan Pillai at Durbar hall of Raj Bhavan.
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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, his few cabinet colleagues, MLAs, government officers and a large number of supporters and party workers were present for the swearing-in ceremony.
However, three Ministers Ravi Naik, Mauvin Godinho and Govind Gaude, all widely known as being Dhavalikar’s bete noire were conspicuous by their absence.
All the three Ministers took their oath in Marathi.
With this, the Sawant government has reached its full strength of 12. Earlier, nine Cabinet Ministers including the Chief Minister were sworn-in on March 28.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Minister told media persons that portfolios will be allocated to new ministers shortly.
When asked whether he will allocate them new portfolios or would there be a reshuffle of portfolios, Sawant said that Ministers have been sworn-in today only and to wait and watch.
All three Ministers said that they will give justice to the portfolios to be allocated to them by the Chief Minister.
