TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Seeking to clarify his government’s stand on ‘Mission Salcette’, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar stated that Navelim MLA and former fisheries minister Avertano Furtado was deliberately left out of the cabinet, as part of an earlier decision.
Parsekar, who arrived at Dabolim airport on Monday evening after attending the swearing-in ceremony of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar as defence minister, was replying to a Herald query on why Furtado had been kept out as minister, thereby leaving Salcette taluka unrepresented in the new cabinet.
“This (keeping Furtado out of the cabinet) was decided earlier,” said Parsekar, but avoided answering if Furtado would be inducted in the second round of cabinet expansion.
When asked if Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza would be allotted the same portfolios, Parsekar replied: “The portfolios and ministries will be decided on Wednesday.”
He avoided further queries and was whisked away by his security into his official vehicle and out of Dabolim airport.
D’Souza, who also arrived in Goa on Monday, said it was the prerogative of the new chief minister to allot portfolios to the ministers, but clearly indicated that he would want to retain his previous portfolios.
“Since my constituency falls in an urban area and it is my wish to take the urban development portfolio. I am also interested in IT and Revenue, but it is the decision of the chief minister whom to allot the portfolios,” said D’Souza.
Reminded of his earlier assertion that he would not accept any other ministry if not made the chief minister, D’Souza said: “I did not say that if I am not made the chief minister, I will not accept any ministry, but I said I will not work under a junior minister.”
When brought to his notice that the new chief minister is junior to him in the ministry, D’Souza replied: “A majority of the MLAs did not want me to be the chief minister. I accept their decision, as it is a democratic verdict of the MLAs. If majority of the MLAs decide that a junior should supersede the senior, it is welcome.”
When told that he had the support of about seven MLAs, D’Souza shot back: “Numbers do not matter, but what matters is the democratic decision of the MLAs and I cannot oppose it.”
D’Souza mentioned that former chief minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will be in Goa on Wednesday or Thursday and he would decide on the allocation of portfolios and ministries along with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
When asked if the government and the functioning of the ministers and MLAs would be remote controlled by Parrikar, D’Souza was quick to add that Parrikar’s experience would be welcome.
“Parrikar had a good grip over the State administration and a good understanding of the ministers and MLAs. His experience is always welcome,” said D’Souza.
Meanwhile, Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida, who closely followed Parsekar out of the airport, claimed that Furtado would be included as minister in the second round, but he would need to endorse his support to the new cabinet.
