A week after being sworn in, the eight Ministers have been allotted portfolios and as expected Vishwajit Rane has pocketed the giant’s share. Ironically Nilesh Cabral who fell asleep last week while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was reading his budget has been given Legislative affairs. Rohan Khaunte who always vehemently opposed Casinos, now as Tourism will have no option but to fall in line. Despite the Industries Association having appealed to Pramod Sawant to select Ministers of integrity and having no criminal cases they got a Minister charge sheeted in the infamous 2001 Power Scam.
With his crave for Town & Country Planning having failed, Babush Monserrate will now try to control the two very lucrative Panaji PDAs by getting his wife to head these gold mines. Govind Gaude who has performed well as a Minister, is a ray of hope for Sports and Rural Development. Subhash Shirodkar who makes a comeback as Minister after 15 years must be delighted to have Water Resources and Cooperation while Ravi Naik who has made Ponda a concrete jungle may not be happy being Agriculture Minister. With three cabinet berths still vacant, some portfolios up for grabs are Power, Fisheries, Social Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Information, Captain of Ports and River Navigation while the Chief Minister is expected to retain Education. After BJP’s loud talk on Women Empowerment it is a travesty that Goa is set to end up with an all male cabinet. While the Chief Minister is away as per established protocol the number two in the cabinet holds fort. But with the current line up, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may never dare take a break, always concerned that Bhivpachi garaz asa. Adv. Aires Rodrigues C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.in
