PANAJI
The Congress has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to induct the three women legislators in his cabinet to prove that the BJP is committed to giving ‘sanman’ to them.
“There is no need of any census or delimitation. The Chief Minister can very well decide on it and do the reshuffle,” a statement issued by Congress leader Girish Chodankar said.
Chodankar was reacting to Sawant’s statement that BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi is giving ‘sanman’ to women through the ‘women’s reservation’, claiming that in Goa 13 seats will be reserved in the assembly.
“Then why not a single woman is minister in his cabinet,” Chodankar questioned.
At the 2022 assembly elections three women -- Jennifer Monserrate, Deviya Rane and Delilah Lobo -- were elected to the Goa legislative assembly from their respective constituencies of Taleigao, Poriem and Siolim, respectively. Jennifer and Deviya were victors on the BJP ticket but didn’t make the cut at cabinet formation in March although Jennifer was a minister in the outgoing Sawant cabinet.
Delilah on the other hand had won on the Congress ticket but in six months switched over to the saffron camp along with seven other legislators.
“BJP has full majority and nobody can stop him (CM) from inducting the three women legislators into his cabinet,” Chodankar said.
“When he makes tall claims and boasts of giving ‘sanman’ to women, he should also consider giving them ministerial berths,” Chodankar said, adding that if Sawant is committed to giving political space to women, then why are the women legislators deprived of space in the Goa Cabinet.
