Ambition on hold: Michael Lobo’s exclusion from Sawant’s reshuffle has sparked speculation on his standing.
MAPUSA
For Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, the recent cabinet reshuffle was a classic case of so close, yet so far.
Once seen as a strong contender for a ministerial berth, the former BJP rebel and Congress returnee found himself sidelined, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant opting instead for seasoned politician Digambar Kamat and Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.
The move has triggered speculation about Lobo’s standing within the party and whether his past and present manoeuvres are catching up with him.
The Delhi visit and speculation
The buzz around Lobo’s elevation gathered pace in July when he accompanied Sawant to Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The visit set political circles abuzz with talk that Lobo, given his clout in Bardez and beyond, was a frontrunner for the expansion.
A former minister himself, Lobo fits the profile of an energetic grassroots politician who commands influence over local bodies, panchayats and the coastal belt’s business interests. His statement to the media – that cabinet expansion would take place only after the monsoon session – added weight to the speculation.
For many, it appeared only a matter of time before he was rewarded with a berth. But when the reshuffle came, it was Kamat and Tawadkar who walked away with the spoils, leaving Lobo nursing political wounds.
Why Kamat and Tawadkar, not Lobo?
In Tawadkar’s case, the decision was clearly about balancing caste equations. A tribal face, his induction allowed the BJP to signal inclusivity while shoring up support in South Goa. Kamat’s case was more nuanced. Once a Congress stalwart, he was among the eight defectors who crossed over to the BJP in 2022 – a move in which Lobo himself played a crucial role. By inducting Kamat, Sawant not only rewarded seniority but also reassured the other defectors that loyalty to the BJP would eventually be acknowledged.
In contrast, Lobo’s stock seems to have suffered. Political analysts point to his vocal criticism of his own government, even on the floor of the Assembly, as a major irritant. During the monsoon session, Lobo raised issues that put the BJP on the defensive, reinforcing the perception that he was unpredictable and difficult to rein in.
The shadow of 2022
Perhaps the most significant factor working against Lobo is his 2022 gamble. On the eve of the Assembly elections, he quit the BJP and launched a high-decibel campaign against Sawant and the saffron party, joining the Congress. The move backfired, but the bitter taste lingered.
“BJP is vindictive. They will not forgive easily, especially someone who cut into them so sharply,” a political analyst observed.
Even though Lobo returned to the BJP fold after engineering the defection of eight Congress MLAs later that year, the central leadership has not forgotten his rebellion. For many in the party, his sidelining in the cabinet reshuffle was a reminder that disloyalty comes at a cost.
Confrontational style
Lobo’s political style also works against him. He is known to openly declare his intentions and flaunt his ambitions. Besides his and his wife’s candidature being secured for the next elections, he has been making moves to float two more loyal candidates in Bardez.
Such assertiveness is read by some within the BJP as an attempt to carve out a personal fiefdom – something the party leadership is wary of. “Who knows, there may be some in the BJP who want to cut him to size and finish him politically,” an opposition leader said, requesting anonymity.
Still too big to ignore
Yet, writing off Lobo may be premature. A section of the BJP acknowledges his grassroots clout and sees him as an asset, especially in North Goa.
“Lobo will get a cabinet post and that too within the next two to three months. The party knows the strength of its leaders and will act accordingly,” a BJP functionary said.
For now, however, Lobo appears deflated. Reacting to his exclusion, he said he was “blank” about the reasons. “If the party wants, they will make me a minister. If the party does not want at the moment, they will not. It depends on the CM and the party,” he said.
Will Michael rock again?
Known as a dynamic and restless politician who rarely stays silent for long, Lobo is unlikely to remain on the sidelines. Whether his exclusion is a temporary cooling-off period or a calculated attempt to marginalise him will become clearer in the coming months.
For Sawant, balancing competing egos within his ranks while maintaining control is a delicate act, and Lobo’s ambitions remain one of his toughest tests.
In Goa’s small but fractious political arena, the sidelining of Michael Lobo is more than just a reshuffle story – it is a signal that past missteps and unchecked ambition can outweigh grassroots clout. But given his ability to reinvent himself and his track record of staying politically relevant, few would bet on Lobo fading away anytime soon.
