PANAJI
In the first signs of dissent over government formation in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its legislator from Mapusa, Joshua D'Souza, voiced his disappointment over missing out on a berth in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet.
Speaking to the media in Mapusa, D'Souza said, 'karyakartas' from Mapusa had placed the demand before the party that he should be made a minister but perhaps for some reason and compulsions it did not happen.
"It is in the hands of the chief minister (making him a minister). Maybe he had some other compulsions," D'Souza said.
D'Souza, who first became a legislator following the 2019 bye-election held following the death of his father Francis D'Souza, has not expressed his displeasure either officially or off the record to anyone about not making the cut.
He retained the Mapusa seat in the recent assembly elections against several odds including anti-incumbency and voter fatigue. As between him and his late father, they have represented Mapusa continuously for over two decades since 1999.
The win had buoyed his supporters to demand with the party that he be made a minister to represent the politically significant Bardez taluka. Instead, Porvorim legislator Rohan Khaunte and Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar made the cut.
D'Souza, meanwhile, has been appointed vice-chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), a position he held in the previous term as well. Sawant heads the Corporation.
