PANAJI
The arrival of BJP leaders Vinod Tawde and Ahish Sood ahead of the visit of the national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda later this week, has sent ruling party politicians in a huddle even as major changes are imminent both in the government as well as the party organisation in Goa.
Tawde and Sood arrived on Wednesday, significantly, at a time when the chasms within the Pramod Sawant cabinet have got exposed in public with senior ministers exchanging barbs over the embarrassment faced in the recent monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
Several government legislations were aborted midway in the face of stiff resistance from Opposition legislators and a perceptible negative public sentiment in the State.
Tawde and Sood are expected to hold discussion with all ministers and legislators and are said to be also on a mission to scout for a successor to BJP state president, Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
Tanavade, who is also Rajya Sabha MP, has already completed his term as party president.
Meanwhile, with nearly half the current term complete, Sawant is expected to effect a cabinet reshuffle replacing at least three of his current set of ministers.
Sawant has reportedly zeroed in on including Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and former chief minister Digambar Kamat in his team hoping it will improve performance and perception of his government.
It is unclear which of his current set of ministers Sawant will axe, but the ongoing wobble in the government has upset the party’s central leadership looking after the State affairs.
Meanwhile, Tawde and Sood are on a dual mission: repair the damage to the government and to identify the next set of office-bearers who will take charge of party affairs for a term during which it will face the next assembly elections in 2027.
Tanavade, meanwhile, said that the party has not got any intimation from Sawant of a possible cabinet reshuffle.
He said cabinet composition is Sawant’s sole prerogative and if he has taken a decision to effect one, he will intimate the party as per convention.
Meanwhile, Nadda is expected to arrive in Goa on Thursday for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the BJP State headquarters. The saffron party is building its own ‘BJP Bhavan’ on a piece of land along the Kadamba road within the jurisdiction of Chimbel panchayat.
