PANJIM: Soon after winning the trust vote on Thursday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he was sent back to State politics as Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt Goa needed him more.
“I was elevated to the Modi cabinet as it was the need of the nation and so I went there (Delhi). Today the Prime Minister felt that there is need in Goa so he sent me back,” Parrikar told media persons.
He said a first list of portfolios will be distributed to the ministers on Friday, when the first cabinet meeting will be held. “The first cabinet meeting will be held on Friday, where decision will be taken to allot one portfolio each to all nine ministers. The portfolios will be notified on Saturday as the Governor is currently traveling out of the State,” Parrikar said.
The cabinet meeting, will also approve the Governor’s Speech, which will be delivered on the second day of the Budget session that is March 23, he said informing that the three-day long Assembly session will commence from March 22 and will end with the presentation of annual financial statement 2017-18 on March 24.
The Chief Minister was speaking in the presence of Ministers Francis D’Souza, Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawade.
Asked about a cabinet expansion, Parrikar said it would take place after the Budget session, around mid-April. He, however, didn’t say who would be sworn in as Ministers in the two vacancies available.
He said the decision with regard to the appointment of Deputy Speaker would be taken in consultation with the coalition partners – MGP, Goa Forward and Independents.
Assuring to announce the government’s Common Minimum Programme by April 14, the Chief Minister said, “It would be focused towards development of Goa, towards keeping the specialty of Goenkarponn and employment generation.”
