Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has allocated portfolios to the newly inducted ministers, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and former Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, marking a significant reshuffle in his cabinet.
According to the official notification, Kamat has been assigned the Public Works Department (PWD), Captain of Ports, Weights and Measures and Legal Metrology. Tawadkar will handle Art and Culture, Tribal Welfare and Sports and Youth Affairs.
The PWD portfolio had been with the Chief Minister after the resignation of Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, while the portfolios of Sports and Art and Culture were also temporarily held by Sawant following the exit of Priol MLA Govind Gaude, who resigned over corruption charges.
The reshuffle has also brought changes for other senior ministers. Subhash Phaldesai will continue with Social Welfare and River Navigation but has been given additional charge of the Drinking Water Department (DWD), while Archives and Archaeology have been withdrawn. "Drinking water is a new department which is very important. It is a very responsible job. We will have to see how everybody gets water," Subhash Phaldesai said reacting to the development.
Sudin Dhavalikar retains Power and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy, with added responsibility for Museum and Gazetteer, though the Housing portfolio has been taken away.
Reacting to his new responsibilities, Kamat said, "Distribution of portfolios is prerogative of the Chief Minister.”
“Two days back Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had called me and taken my views. I told him that I will accept his decisions. I am happy," said Kamat.
"I have been chief minister of the State that too without home and finance portfolios but still I tried to give a good administration. I have no problem and Dr Sawant also knows. I have been given PWD portfolio may be because of my experience," Kamat said.
He added that portfolios were not new to him, as he had handled them in some capacity earlier. "I will try to do justice with all the portfolios allocated to me," he said.
Tawadkar’s return to Sports comes at a time when Goa will be hosting the World Chess Championship, an event that political analyst Trajano D’Mello described as “an honour” for him. He noted that Sawant had played “an important card” by entrusting Tawadkar with the Tribal Welfare portfolio.
D’Mello also remarked that the PWD allocation gives Kamat “an opportunity to clean up the potholes and prove his efficiency,” pointing to his long administrative experience as a former chief minister.