By Irfan Iqbal Gheta
Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant has cracked the whip at last. The wait is over. The suspense has ended. Shri Govind Gaude Ji – now former Art & Culture Minister – has received the pink slip from his boss. In other words, he’s been dropped from the Dr Pramod Sawant-led cabinet.
This development follows Shri Govind Bab’s controversial speech, which hinted at corrupt practices within the ministry — a ministry held by none other than you-know-who.
The move is significant. It demonstrates CM Dr Pramod Sawant’s firm grip over his cabinet. These marching orders leave no room for doubt about who truly calls the shots.
Just a fortnight ago, an unnecessary controversy had put Goa in the national spotlight. Goa’s mercurial Health Minister, Shri Rane Ji, was caught on camera suspending Dr Rudresh — CMO of Goa Medical College and Hospital — for a fault so minor that it forced the entire country to sit up and take notice.
The public outrage that followed was swift and widespread. Opposition leaders, doctors, healthcare workers, and common citizens rose in unison, demanding an unconditional apology from the minister — threatening an indefinite strike if one was not issued.
Sensing the public sentiment turning against his government, CM Dr Pramod Sawant moved quickly to control the damage. Demonstrating statesmanship, he reached out to the aggrieved medical community. Without wasting time, he overturned the verbal suspension issued by his Health Minister, who by then was already eating humble pie on national television, offering half-hearted apologies that found no takers.
While the “Doctor vs Rane” saga played out on the streets, the Gaude vs Sawant rift receded into the background, offering temporary respite to the now-former Minister Govind Bab — who had already received a dressing down from the party’s state president, Shri Damu Bab.
But his fate was sealed. The end was imminent. The writing was on the wall — visible to all. It was only a matter of time. And now, it has finally happened — on the birthday of Calangute MLA Shri Lobo Bab, no less.
Is it time to connect the dots? Only time will tell. Dr Pramod Sawant loves to keep his opponents guessing. He has mastered the art of concealing firm decisions behind a soft-spoken demeanour, lulling detractors into complacency. When the dust settles, Dr Sawant often delivers a “surgical strike” — swift, silent, and surprising.
Be that as it may, this sacking sends a loud and clear message: The Doctor is the undisputed boss. Follow his prescription — or you’re out.
Deal with it — like it or not.
Tough times lie ahead for rebels without a cause.
