Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar in Delhi on Wednesday.
PANAJI
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant made his second trip to Delhi in less than a week, meeting Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Coal and Mines Minister, and other leaders.
While the official line is that Sawant discussed housing, urban development and citizen‑centric infrastructure, the timing of the visit has raised eyebrows. With assembly elections just months away, the motive behind the back‑to‑back trips remains unclear.
Sawant’s office said he sought assistance for speedy approval of proposals under the Urban Challenge funds. He reportedly pressed for support to strengthen welfare initiatives and improve urban infrastructure in Goa.
The Chief Minister also met the Coal Minister to push for resolution of Goa’s long‑pending mining issues. Mining has been a politically sensitive subject in the State, with livelihoods and revenue tied to its revival.
Sawant’s frequent Delhi visits are being closely watched in political circles. The meetings with Union ministers may be routine, but the context of the approaching polls lends them added significance.
For now, the government maintains the focus was on development. But speculation continues over whether Sawant’s Delhi outreach signals deeper political manoeuvring ahead of the elections.
