Cabinet ministers can't arm-twist Goa CM: BJP MLA on upcoming reshuffle

By IANS | Published: July 12, 2019 01:06 PM2019-07-12T13:06:04+5:302019-07-12T13:15:21+5:30

No cabinet member can arm-twist or play ego games with the Chief Minister, Goa assembly Deputy Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo said on Friday, while clearly indicating that at least four alliance ministers in the current Pramod Sawant-led cabinet could be replaced soon.

Cabinet ministers can't arm-twist Goa CM: BJP MLA on upcoming reshuffle | Cabinet ministers can't arm-twist Goa CM: BJP MLA on upcoming reshuffle

Cabinet ministers can't arm-twist Goa CM: BJP MLA on upcoming reshuffle

Lobo, who along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant led a delegation of 10 newly inducted BJP MLAs to the national capital, where they met the BJP President Amit Shah and national working President J.P. Nadda, also said that only one of the Independent MLAs may be retained by Sawant in his cabinet reshuffle.

"Chief Minister is ready to help, but you cannot just be arm-twisting him. You cannot put your ego before him or say, if you do not do my work I will throw the government. This language will not do," Lobo said.

When asked if all non-BJP MLAs would be dropped from the cabinet, Lobo said: "I feel one Independent MLA will remain in the government and the remaining will be BJP".

Currently, there are five MLAs three from the Goa Forward Party and two Independents who are ministers in the Sawant-led cabinet.

On Wednesday, 10 Congress MLAs split from the party's legislative unit and merged their party into the BJP.

Lobo said that some of the new inductees would be brought into the cabinet and that Sawant would be taking the decision on cabinet formation later on Friday.

The swearing-in is expected to be held at Raj Bhavan at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

In view of the developments, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai has pleaded with the BJP High Command to not upset the current coalition government alignment which was formed in the presence of former Chief Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar, in 2017.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in app