PANAJI
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai on Thursday said the decision to effect a cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of the Chief Minister but opined that the exercise should be done on the basis of an assessment of the performance of ministers.
Phaldesai, who addressed a press conference at the State secretariat related to his department's scheme of scholarships for students from the Scheduled Tribe communities, was responding to media queries on the speculation of an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
"Who should be made a minister and who should be dropped from the cabinet is solely the prerogative of the Chief Minister. But I feel that an assessment of the performance of the ministers must be done and then the decision taken," Phaldesai said.
Over the last few days, reports that Sawant may effect a shake-up of his cabinet have been widely circulating in political circles as well as the media.
The reports gained momentum after several ministers and ruling party politicians began voicing dissent publicly in connection with the embarrassment faced in the House when the government withdrew several bills it had introduced in the monsoon session.
Sawant is said to be toying with the idea of rejigging his team by replacing at least two ministers in a bid to improve the image of his government.
The names of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and former chief minister Digambar Kamat are doing the rounds for elevation to the cabinet but which two ministers being dropped is still unclear.
