MAPUSA
The sudden demise of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik has not only left a void in the State cabinet but also set off a fresh round of political speculation within the ruling BJP over who might fill the vacant berth.
The development comes barely two months after the last cabinet reshuffle in which former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar were inducted as ministers.
With the creation of a new vacancy, attention has inevitably turned to MLAs who were in contention but missed out during the August reshuffle.
Among those who had been in the reckoning then were Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar. Both were seen as potential ministerial entrants, but the opportunity slipped away when the reshuffle concluded with just two new faces.
Political observers now believe the vacancy could reopen the conversation within the party, though the outcome remains uncertain.
A senior BJP functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that several names are being discussed informally, but no decision has been taken.
“There was always talk that one more MLA might be accommodated later. Ravi Naik’s unfortunate passing has changed the equation, but it will be the Chief Minister’s call,” the leader said.
Lobo’s name naturally features in discussions, given his long political career, three electoral victories and prior ministerial experience.
His influence across several coastal constituencies in Bardez and his role in facilitating the 2022 Congress defections, are factors that keep him relevant in BJP’s internal arithmetic.
However, political analysts caution against assuming a direct elevation.
“While Lobo has strong credentials, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may prefer to keep the post vacant until after the upcoming bypolls,” said noted political analyst Trajano D’Mello.
“The Chief Minister has held on to multiple portfolios himself and he may use this vacancy as leverage to maintain balance within the party, especially among communities such as the Bhandaris,” he added.
The BJP leadership, sources indicate, is likely to weigh both political necessity and caste equations before taking a call.
With the ruling party eyeing strategic balance ahead of the bypolls and the Lok Sabha elections next year, the decision may not come immediately.
For now, Ravi Naik’s passing has reshuffled the political deck once again “ reopening ambitions, recalibrating loyalties and reminding many in the BJP ranks that in Goa’s fluid politics, the next reshuffle is never too far away.
