* MLAs who defected from Congress to BJP are upset as CM offers them “redundant” posts of Vice-chairpersons of Corporations
* Sources reveal Mornugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar refused “irrelevant” post
SURAJ NANDREKAR:
Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Five months after they defected to the BJP from Congress in Goa, the eight MLAs have been left in the lurch by Dr Pramod Sawant led BJP Government in Goa.
Eight MLAs – Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldesai, Sankalp Amonkar, Rudolf Fernandes and Alexio Sequeira had quit Congress in mid-September 2022 and joined BJP for the “development of their constituencies.”
After keeping them “waiting” for five months, the Chief Minister has now started giving appointments in State-run Corporations to MLAs.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik has been given the post of Vice-chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, while Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo has been appointed Vice-chairperson of the Entertainment Society of Goa. Ironically, both these organisations are headed by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Sources in the Government reveal that a note was moved to PWD Minister for the appointment of Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar as the Vice-Chairman of Sewerage Corporation, headed by Minister Nilesh Cabral.
However, within hours the call came to keep the note on hold, highly placed sources say.
It is understood that Sankalp, who was expecting a Ministry, refused to accept the “irrelevant” post and has conveyed this to the Chief Minister.
Efforts to contact Amonkar for his comments proved futile.
Skipped Governors Tea Party
Meanwhile, it is understood that Senior politicians Digambar Kamat, Alexio Sequeira and Michael Lobo are also upset with CM for the delay in giving what was promised to them before induction.
This is why most of the eight MLAs skipped the Tea Party hosted by Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai on Republic Day.
Strong Opposition from BJP Cadres
Sources reveal that the BJP Cadres have vehemently opposed the appointment of eight MLAs in big corporations as chairpersons and inducting them into the Cabinet.
The issue has also echoed in the BJP Core Committee meeting many times, and hence, despite wanting to keep his promise to eight MLAs, CM cannot execute them.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade has made no bones of his opposition to giving ministries and corporations to the eight MLAs.
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