Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: With the dramatic removal of Govind Gaude from the Goa Cabinet, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has fired the first political warning shot, setting the stage for what many believe could be a larger Cabinet reshuffle in the days ahead.
Gaude’s sacking came late Monday evening, weeks after he publicly hinted at corruption within the government, indirectly pointing fingers at the Chief Minister himself. While the CM maintained a stoic silence throughout the controversy, the axe eventually fell and fell hard.
But Gaude isn’t the only one who has stirred political waves this month. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also found himself in hot water after a video went viral showing him reprimanding a doctor in a hospital casualty ward.
The clip triggered outrage across the medical community, prompting protests and calls for action. The situation escalated to the point where CM Sawant had to personally step in to pacify striking doctors and bring the issue under control.
Despite the uproar, Rane’s position in the Cabinet remains secure for now. As the de facto number two in the government, holding five heavyweight portfolios including Health and Forest, his political influence makes his removal unlikely. However, the episode has added fuel to growing speculation that a broader shake-up in the Sawant Cabinet may be imminent.
Political observers believe Sawant could use this opportunity to clean house, assert control, and reward loyalty – especially among the eight Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP in 2022 and are still awaiting Cabinet berths.
These turncoats, some of whom wield considerable influence in their constituencies, have long expected ministerial posts as part of their transition deal.
Several current ministers are now under scrutiny. Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, seen as politically low-key and lacking significant grassroots strength, is among those considered vulnerable.
Senior minister Ravi Naik, while a seasoned figure, is perceived as inactive and possibly past his political prime.
Panaji MLA Babush Monseratte, never far from controversy, is also being mentioned in backroom discussions about possible exits.
Meanwhile, there is strong speculation that Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar could be brought in to fill Gaude’s vacant post – both as a strategic ST replacement and as a signal of internal reshuffle. Tawadkar, like Gaude, belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, and his elevation would help retain the Cabinet’s social balance, avoiding backlash from ST groups following Gaude’s ouster.
Interestingly, just hours before the sacking, CM Sawant attended MLA Michael Lobo’s birthday celebration and told the crowd “Acche Din are coming for Michael Lobo.” In political terms, this could hint at Lobo’s possible re-entry into the Cabinet — something he has been lobbying for since returning to the BJP fold after his brief stint with the Congress.
By sacking Gaude with surgical precision – and without public confrontation – Sawant has reinforced his position as a leader who may be silent, but not soft. His message to the rest of the Cabinet is unmistakable: performance, loyalty, and alignment with the leadership matter.
Now all eyes are on what comes next. Will more heads roll? Will the Congress defectors get their reward? And will the Sawant Cabinet undergo a facelift ahead of future political battles?
One thing is clear — the reshuffle clock has started ticking.
