Blurb:
There is a subtle message and what Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is trying to tell us is that the economic future of the state will not be compromised
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The big reshuffle that the Taleigao unit of the BJP was hoping for never happened. The PWD portfolio has remained with Sudin Dhavalikar and the MGP, which is not just an ally, but a very important one. Deepak Dhavalikar also manged to retain his portfolios, which is significant. However, the biggest loser was Alina Saldanha who had the Forest and Environment portfolio snatched from her, which might be a relief because in the run-up to induction of the new minister there was intense speculation that she would be dropped from the Cabinet to make room for Nilesh Cabral. The surprise loser was Dayanand Mandrekar who had to give up the panchayat portfolio and he is seething with anger. The new minister, Rajendra Arlekar will now have two major portfolios -- forest and environment and panchayats. Again there was some talk in political circles that he would be given the home portfolio, but one must realise that the BJP and former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in particular, are firm believers that home and finance must remain with the chief minister in order for him to retain control of the government.
More than a reshuffle of portfolios, it was selection of the the right man to replace Mickky Pacheco, who is cooling his heels in jail, that took a while. What should have happened before Ganesh Chaturthi took place in October and it was Arlekar who finally made the grade. Once that was accomplished reshuffle of portfolios seemed like a walk in the park. However, there is more to it than meets the eye.
There is a subtle message and what Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is trying to tell us is that the economic future of the state will not be compromised. Alina Saldanha was not a high-profile minister, but some of the decisions taken by her had resulted in projects getting blocked. The opposition to marinas found a leader in Saldanha. She came out openly against the two projects even though Parsekar was still at the crease batting for them. She was to the State government what Jairam Ramesh was to UPA II. She was also accused of misusing the bio-diversity board to block a hotel project in Cansaulim and another in Mobor. The irony is that Saldanha and Ramesh were both given the rural development portfolio after they were divested of forest and environment.
Mandrekar's loss in a bit of a mystery. He was never a mover or shaker, but has enough ministerial experience to land a plum portfolio.Was it neglect of the panchayat portfolio? This portfolio might not have been a crucial one during the Parrikar regime, but the political narrative changed with the elevation of Parsekar to the top post. The present chief minister represents a rural constituency in the true sense where village-level development is crucial to winning or losing elections. Was Mandrekar faulted for not doing enough?
The minor reshuffle might not have caused a major political earthquake, but it has sent a subtle message that this government literally means business. It wants and needs to develop alternate economic generators and has to revive mining and for that to happen all members of the State Cabinet have to be on the same page.
On the other hand, Arlekar is no push-over. He has a mind of his own, but it helps that he is forward looking, innovative and able to make things happen. The paperless Assembly is proof of his vision and ability. Arlekar might harbour a grudge that it was Parsekar who got the top post instead of him, but he will have to work in tandem with the chief minister to give the BJP a fighting chance in 2017.
