MAPUSA
With new equations taking shape, Bardez is back in the spotlight and there are indications that the politically sensitive taluka may witness a rejig in distribution of cabinet berths.
The largest chunk “ three out of the eight legislators that quit Congress “ are from Bardez, which has tilted the balance in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the taluka.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who has once again played a key role to breakaway from Congress and join the BJP along with his wife and the neighbouring Saligao MLA, is expected to be rewarded for his crucial role.
There is a high possibility that BJP may drop Fisheries Minister and Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar who appears to be a soft target and replace him with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
Lobo, who enjoys a very good equation with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, was first made a minister in the previous Sawant government in 2019. A special ministry was carved out on Lobo’s request and he was made the Waste Management Minister.
Bardez got maximum representation in the cabinet when BJP first came to power with a simple majority under the leadership of late Manohar Parrikar in 2012.
Three BJP MLAs “ then Mapusa MLA late Francis D’Souza (Babush), Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar and Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar “ were all made ministers in Parrikar’s cabinet in 2012.
Then again in 2017, BJP’s alliance government gave three representations in the taluka with Francis D’Souza (Babush) becoming the deputy CM while Goa Forward’s MLAs Jayesh Salgaonkar (Saligao) and Vinoda Paliencar (Siolim) were also sworn in as ministers.
However, mid-way in 2019 after the MGP and GFP ministers were dropped from the cabinet of the Pramod Sawant government, Michael Lobo was the lone minister representing Bardez taluka.
Soon after the 2022 assembly polls, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and Tivim MLA Nilkant Halarnkar were sworn in as ministers in Bardez.
A senior BJP leader from North Goa informed that Michael Lobo will definitely be rewarded with a cabinet berth but wasn’t sure whether the party could afford to drop Halarnkar due to his community status.
“Halarnkar represents a very important section of the community and dropping him will antagonise people belonging to that group. It will be a difficult call for the party to take,” the senior BJP leader said, on condition of anonymity.
