PANAJI
With eyes on 2027 Assembly elections just 18 months away, the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet is poised for significant changes aimed at accommodating former Congress legislators who switched to the BJP.
While an immediate induction is expected soon to fill a vacant ministerial seat, a larger reshuffle is planned for after the Monsoon Assembly session.
Chief Minister Sawant, returning from Delhi after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah alongside Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, did not rule out the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle. Smiling, he avoided giving details, simply telling reporters “will let you know.”
Sawant said he and Lobo had discussions with Shah on various political matters. Calling Lobo a “close friend and party leader,” he added that his trip also included visiting Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira at AIIMS, where Sequeira is receiving treatment.
“I and Michael met Shah and discussed various political developments. Michael is my very close friend and party leader. Our discussion with Shah was on various political issues,” he commented.
Sources indicate Lobo is likely to join the Cabinet. He played a key role in engineering the defection of eight Congress MLAs—including himself—to the BJP in September 2022. Lobo had previously served as a minister in Sawant’s Cabinet from 2019 until early 2022, resigning to join Congress after the party declined to give his wife a ticket; she too later joined the BJP.
If confirmed, Lobo would become the second Congress defector in the current Cabinet, following Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira, who became Environment Minister last December after Nilesh Cabral was dropped to make space.
Asked about his return to the Cabinet, Lobo said the decision rests with the BJP high command, the Chief Minister, and the State party president. He added that any broader changes would likely occur only after the Assembly session, which is scheduled from July 21 to August 8.
Lobo said “decision with regards to my entry into Cabinet or Cabinet expansion will be taken by the party high command in consultation with the Chief Minister and BJP State President”.
Lobo also shared that Amit Shah had in-depth discussion about Goa’s political strategy for the 2027 elections, noting that the Home Minister is well informed and closely monitoring developments in the State. “Amit Bhai Shah is well-updated about political situations and developments in Goa. He has a special focus on this small state,” the Calangute MLA said.
BJP functionaries, however, said that an immediate Cabinet induction might happen to fill-up the Ministerial post that has fallen vacant with the exit of Govind Gaude. “The larger reshuffle along with rebalancing of power or portfolios among the existing ministers will take place after the Assembly,” sources said.
It is also learnt that the Cabinet will see entry of third Congress turncoat Margao MLA Digambar Kamat along with Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar. The elevation of Tawadkar in the Cabinet has been held-up for now due to delay in finalizing the next Speaker.
