No Cabinet reshuffle, dissolution: Kamat

PANJIM, APRIL 6
In a clear indication that the Congress managers had taken the wind out of the G7 sails, confident-looking Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday ruled out plans of reshuffle in the Cabinet and also talks of dissolution of Goa assembly.
In fact, for the first time in many weeks, the chief minister made a statement on G7 saying he was not aware of any demands of G7 except the demand for apology from PWD Minister Churchill Alemao.
“I don’t know the demands of this so called G7,” the chief minister said responding to a query from the media. He also asserted that his government is very strong, in a tone which sent signals that he is firm in the saddle and that once again he had emerged trumps against his detractors who had upped the ante against him.
“The G7 have made some demands which are not within my powers to meet,” Kamat said at the post-cabinet briefing here.
“Whenever there is something I will let you know. But right now there is no such proposal,” he said.
It may be recalled that the demand for apology of Churchill was made to the chief minister while the others were placed before the Congress-NCP coordination committee meeting held in Mumbai three weeks ago.
Replying to queries, Kamat assertively said that there are no plans of Cabinet reshuffle leave alone moves of dissolution of Goa assembly.
He said the NCP members must have put their demands before their High Command and that Congress High Command is in touch with NCP’s. “I will not act till I get instruction from my high command,” the chief minister clarified.
“Whenever there is something I will let you know but right now there is no such proposal,” he said.
The G7 members were in Mumbai on Monday to meet NCP leader Praful Patel, in a bid to leverage with the Congress High Command to resolve the imbroglio.
Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting which lasted just 15 minutes was held at the State secretariat, with the media banned from entering the premises.
Raj Bhavan visit: Asked about his visit to Raj Bhavan, Kamat said the meeting was called by Governor S S Sidhu.
“The meeting was called by the governor to discuss the expansion of the Dabolim airport,” he said and added the officials of the Civil Aviation, Airport Authority and Navy were also present for the meeting.
G7 had been demanding change of leadership and portfolio changes too. G7 wanted Pratapsing Rane to replace Kamat as chief minister but the High Command indirectly ruled out change of leadership.