TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even as Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is awaiting his cabinet colleague Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco’s return from Delhi before deciding on his future in the cabinet, hectic political lobbying has begun in the state to replace Pacheco.
On Tuesday, political circles were abuzz with the possibility of Pacheco stepping down as minister for rural development, owing to the court verdict that dismissed his appeal in the 2014 High Court verdict in the Electricity Department engineer assault case. However, Pacheco, who is currently in Delhi, is set to file a revision petition in the Supreme Court. “Pacheco is exploring all possible legal options to stay the order convicting him. A revision petition is likely to be filed,” a source close to Pacheco confirmed.
Moreover, if Pacheco fails to get any relief, as per the latest Supreme Court judgment, he would have to step down as minister. This would create a vacancy in the 12 member Parsekar-led cabinet.
Sources say that several BJP legislators are vying for the cabinet berth with the names of Nilesh Cabral, Subhash Phal Desai and Pramod Sawant making the rounds. Sources say that BJP may induct a minister from the minority community as a replacement to Pacheco.
When contacted, the chief minister said that he would discuss the matter with Pacheco before taking any decision on dropping him or inducting a new minister. “Pacheco is my colleague. I will have to talk to him. Currently, he is in Delhi and I am waiting for him to come down,” Parsekar told Herald.
When asked about several names being discussed to replace Pacheco, he said, ‘It would be premature to comment at this stage, but if required, the deserving person will be inducted.”
Even BJP President Vinay Tendulkar maintained his silence on the issue. “The party is yet to take any decision on the issue. We are waiting and watching the situation,” Tendulkar said.
Pacheco, a Goa Vikas Party leader and Nuvem MLA, was inducted in the state cabinet on November 8, last year, after then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar resigned creating a vacancy.
