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NEW BOOK: 'PATRIOTISM IN ACTION: Goans in Indias Defence Services'
With Foreword by Gen SF Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM, ADC (retd)
former Chief of Indian Army Staff
and Governor, Punjab & Administrator, Chandigarh UT
Copies now available at:
GOA: Literati (2277740), Other India (2263306), Broadway (6647038),
Mandovi (2427904), Noel DSilva & Associates (9823120454 / 9096781714),
Confidant / Golden Heart Emp (2732450), David & Co (2730326), Vardaan
(9527463684)
SERV / RETD Def Offrs in Goa: O/o Sainik Co-op Hse Bldg Sty, Def Col, Porvorim
(2417288)
MUMBAI: David & Co (22019010)
PUNE: Manneys (26131683), Popular (25678327)
BENGALURU: Narayan (22865800)
DELHI: Ritana (24617278)
ONLINE (worldwide delivery): http://www.ritanabooks.com,
http://goa1556.goa-india.org
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Is choosing and dropping ministers still CM’s prerogative?
By Nisser Dias
nisserdias at gmail.com
SMS to 9422437029
Last week Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat was experiencing a storm in
the tea cup or rather a little discomfort with some of his cabinet
colleagues coming together to plot a scheme to stop him from reshuffling
the council of ministers. Among those who got together were those who
were supposed to be directly affected as their names figured in the list
of minister to be dropped. At the same time there were others who would
be indirectly affected of getting their kith and kin elected at the next
assembly hustings with the inclusion of a controversial MLA.
Digambar Kamat since becoming a chief minister has weathered a couple of
coups to topple him but every time he has managed to cling on to his
‘Kodel’. Of course all his visits to numerous religious places and also
to the High Command must be paying dividends. But out of the entire ploy
one question has emerged, ‘is choosing and dropping ministers still the
chief minister’s prerogative’? Or does he take and executes orders from
High Commands of different political parties? Or does he crumble under
the pressures and tantrums from his own ministers?
The controversy seems to have started with some communiqué from the
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to reinstate tainted Benaulim MLA in
the cabinet by dropping one of their own. I can say that Mickky Pacheco
did impress his party bigwigs with his birthday bash last week. He seems
to have subtly convinced them that only he can increase some more seats
in the assembly for the party provided he is appointed as a minister.
And that got the party bosses working overtime to induct him into the
cabinet.
To counter this move NCP ministers Jose Philip D’souza and Nilkant
Harlankar sought the support of some Congress heavy weights to
pressurize the chief minister not to upset their applecart. However to
their bad luck the local NCP leadership used to the opportunity to try
to discipline the mavericks and demanded their resignation. As of now
the two ministers have refused and even the chief minister has refused
to give in to the NCP demand to drop the ministers. Of course Kamat has
sought time to seek advice of his high command.
Undoubtedly Digambar Kamat is also playing his game very shrewdly as I
do not think he wants Mickky Pacheco in his cabinet specially after the
latter upon being released from jail bad mouthed the former in the
assembly. I feel the chief minister if he has any credibility should
stick to his guns and oppose Benaulim MLA’s inclusion in the cabinet as
Crime Branch and CBI are investigating his alleged involvement in
alleged culpable homicide and money laundering respectively. These are
serious crimes and the government should give an opportunity to these
agencies not only to investigate but to present their cases before the
court without fear. Once anointed as a minister he would enjoy a huge
clout which could be used to influence witnesses.
Why would the former Tourism minister who has bad mouthed the chief
minister and demanded an investigation against him want to be included
in his cabinet? I did not elaborate that along with minister-ship comes
a horde of benefits which the Benaulim MLA have missed for almost six
months and without power he is feeling like fish out of water. I do not
think any likeminded Goan would want a disgraced and jailed MLA as a
minister.
Be that as it may, can other ministers plot to force the chief minister
not to drop or induct any minister? That NCP ministers were trying to
safe guard their position can be understood. What was the reason for the
Alemaos and Monseratte to extend their support to those ministers on
whom the axe was dangling? And that too when till recently PWD minister
Churchill Alemao was publicly demanding that Congress go it alone at the
next assembly election.
For the Navelim legislator keeping Mickky Pacheco away from the cabinet
is an advantage as it makes Churchill’s job much easier of getting his
daughter Valanka elected from Benaulim constituency. If Benaulim MLA is
inducted as minister then he will surely be a thorn in PWD minister’s side.
But the chief minister seems to be keeping his cards close to his chest
by refusing to be impulsive. These few months before the elections is
very crucial to all the MLAs specially the ministers who wants to
accumulate as much spoils of the position to woo the voters in the next
election. Every politician is trying to form coteries or groups either
by fielding family members and relatives otherwise close associates so
that they have leverage to bargain before formation of a new government.
Digambar Kamat knows this very well and he lets the carrot dangle till
such time he can get a good bargain for himself.
Finally a parting shot, Goans just celebrated Goa’s 50 years of
Liberation from the colonial rule of the Portuguese. Sadly though our
politicians especially those elected to the Legislative Assembly have
done much more damage to Goa in 50 years which the Portuguese could not
do in 450 years. It is time now the Goa brethren along the length and
breadth of the world join hands to destroy our own enemies and free Goa
from the bondage of the 40 politicians who repeatedly get elected using
money and muscle power to carry further destruction of the state. Till
such time Goans do not come together to destroy the scourge our future
and that of our generations to come is doomed. (ENDS)
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First published in Gomantak Times, Goa - December 23, 2010
