Goa CM retains Home and Finance, Panaji MLA Monserrate will get Revenue, Khaunte new tourism minister

By PTI

PANAJI: In his second time period because the chief minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant has retained key Home and Finance portfolios whereas distributing ministries to his eight colleagues within the state cabinet.

Rohan Khaunte is entrusted with the plum Tourism, Information and Technology and Printing and Stationary departments.

A notification allotting portfolios to the eight MLAs of BJP, who took oath on Mach 28 together with Sawant, was issued on Sunday. Sawant has retained the Home, Finance, Personnel, Vigilance and Official Languages departments.

Vishwajit Rane, who had unsuccessfully lobbied for the CM’s submit, has been given essential Health and Town and Country Planning Portfolios together with Urban Development, Women and Child, and Forest departments.

Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate, who defeated former chief minister the late Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal from the Panaji seat, has been allotted Revenue, Labour and Waste Management portfolios.

Senior legislator Mauvin Godinho has been allotted Transport, Industries, Panchayat and Protocol ministries whereas Ravi Naik has been given the Agriculture, Handicrafts, and Civil Supplies portfolios, as per the notification.

The essential Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio has been allotted to Nilesh Cabral. He may also deal with the departments of Legislative Affairs, Environment, and Law and Judiciary.

Subhash Shirodkar has been allotted Water Resources, Cooperation and Provedoria (Institute Of Public Assistance) portfolios. Govind Gaude will deal with Sports, Art and Culture and RDA ministries.

Rane, Godinho, Cabral and Gaude had been a part of the Sawant-led cabinet from 2019-22, whereas Khaunte was a minister within the Parrikar-headed authorities and was dropped from the cabinet in 2019. The chief minister can induct three extra ministers into the state cabinet.

Goa BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade had final week mentioned {that a} resolution on three cabinet berths mendacity vacant shall be taken “within a month or two”.

In the lately concluded elections in Goa, the BJP gained 20 seats, one wanting the bulk within the 40-member House.

Three impartial MLAs and two legislators of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) have prolonged their help to the BJP.