PANJIM: For the first time Salcete taluka which has eight Assembly constituencies has found no representation in the Dr Pramod Sawant Ministry while, Ponda taluka has maximum representation with three Cabinet Ministers.
Salcete was always considered to be a Congress bastion but in the recent past the Congress is slowly losing its dominance in the area. Since Goa attained Statehood, MLAs from Salcete have found a place in every Ministry. The taluka also gave four Chief Ministers to the State, the highest any taluka has.
But this time, despite BJP creating history by wresting the Navelim seat, the taluka has gone unrepresented in the Sawant government, though as there are three Cabinet berths to be filled the possibility of Salcete getting some representation is not ruled out.
There were chances that four-time Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco would be inducted in the Sawant Ministry that took oath on Monday. However, the BJP inducted nine Ministers including the Chief Minister and all now depend on expansion of the Ministry.
In 2007, Salcete taluka had the highest representation with six Ministers including the then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. Also after the 2012 polls, the then BJP government, even after securing a majority on its own, inducted the then Navelim independent MLA Avertano Furtado in the cabinet.
In 2017, the strength of the BJP was reduced to 13 and the BJP could not win any of the constituencies in six talukas. Yet it formed the government with the support of regional parties and independents and saw that the Salcete got representation.
Among other taukas that have gone unrepresented in Sawant’s new team are Pernem, Sanguem and Dharbandora where the BJP has won seats.
