Pramod Sawant took oath as the chief minister of Goa to begin his second term at the helm, and along with him were eight BJP legislators inducted as ministers in a jam-packed Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, Taleigao, on Monday. The big names sworn in as ministers included Vishwajit Rane, Mauvin Godinho, Ravi Naik, Nilesh Cabral, Subhash Shirodkar, Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gaude and Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate.
It appears that the BJP has finally managed to broker peace within a team of heavyweights, and the induction ceremony said it all. The party leadership via this exercise has set at rest some ticklish issues. Firstly, the first phase of induction had an all BJP team, sending a clear message to all and sundry that this government belongs to the BJP. The BJP has stamped its authority on day one as Sawant took the driver’s seat.
Secondly, in what could be a move triggered by internal compulsions, Sawant has elevated Vishwajit Rane up the seniority list by positioning him at the No 2 slot, ahead of veteran leaders like Mauvin Godinho, former CM Ravi Naik and Subhash Shirodkar. Perhaps, the compromises and adjustments that have been made by the BJP leadership to rest the vexed leadership issue are beginning to show.
Sawant has done a delicate balancing act in accommodating all sections in the first batch of cabinet ministers, but he still faces an uphill task in choosing the remaining three slots with many aspirants in the fray. On top of everyone’s mind would be a decision on MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar who has been facing stiff opposition from within the BJP, despite clearance from the high command. The leadership may be trying to gain an electoral advantage at the Lok Sabha election of 2024 by rewarding Dhavalikar, but the State BJP is opposed to the move since the MGP took cudgels against the party at the elections, and also because inducting Dhavalikar will deny ministership to one BJP legislator. Also, Ponda taluka has already emerged as the most powerful in terms of representation in the ministry having three out of its four legislators accommodated. Will Sawant make it four-out-of-four by including Dhavalikar?
The second challenge would be to decide between the Independents – Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo. Inclusion of both the Independents and Dhavalikar would again mean that avenues of other BJP aspirants are closed. Can Sawant ignore names like Subhash Phaldesai, Nilkant Halarnkar and Ganesh Gaonkar, and reward three legislators from outside the party?
Pramod Sawant has waded through some challenging situations and emerged as the chief minister for a second term. He has been the architect of the current BJP, which has more Congress flavour in it, rather than saffron. But, all said and done, he has weathered storms within and outside the party, navigated through turmoil to ensure that the BJP has smooth sailing for the 2022 term. Faced with a dilemma of ‘insiders’ versus ‘outsiders’ in the cabinet, it is to be seen how he manages to close off the vacant slots, hold the team together and begin his second innings.
