In recent weeks, a large section of Goa’s media has become consumed with a single theme—cabinet reshuffle. Whether it is the vacancy left after the sacking of Govind Gaude or the uncertainty around the ailing Alexio Sequeira, speculation has run rampant. Columns and primetime debates are busy throwing up lists of ministers supposedly on their way out and hopefuls waiting in the wings.
This endless conjecture begs the question: Why is the media going overboard?
It is certainly true that people have a right to know how their government is constituted. If portfolios remain unattended or critical decisions are delayed due to ministerial vacancies, it affects governance. But what Goa has witnessed over the last month goes far beyond informative reportage. It is closer to gossip, driven more by political leaks than by genuine public interest.
One day, a story confidently asserts that three ministers are to be dropped to make way for disgruntled MLAs. The next day, another outlet claims it will be only one. The names rotate in and out of the rumour mill, with little clarity and no accountability.
The coverage seldom stops to ask a basic question: Does this reshuffle, whenever it happens, have a direct impact on issues that affect the common Goan?
It is no secret that a few politicians actively feed this frenzy. Floating trial balloons in the press is an age-old tactic to pressure party leadership, test public reaction, or unsettle rivals. But the media is not compelled to play along. Responsible journalism requires that speculation is balanced with context and that governance remains the core of the narrative.
There is also the question of proportion. Is a potential reshuffle truly the most pressing issue Goa faces today? At this very moment, the state is grappling with serious concerns.
* Unemployment remains stubbornly high, with thousands of youth queuing up for limited government jobs.
* Illegal land conversion and encroachments threaten the very identity of Goan villages.
* Drug trafficking continues to corrode the social fabric, with recent arrests indicating how deeply entrenched these networks are.
* Monsoon preparedness remains patchy, and flooding is already affecting coastal belts.
* Health infrastructure still struggles to meet rising demand, especially in rural areas.
These are the stories that deserve relentless coverage and public scrutiny. They directly impact citizens’ daily lives in ways no reshuffle ever will.
Even within the political sphere, many more substantive questions await serious reporting. What is the government doing to ensure transparency in public procurement? Why do delays persist in implementing the Mining Corporation, a key promise meant to restart Goa’s mining economy? Why has Goa’s debt ballooned despite record tourism revenues?
By constantly amplifying reshuffle rumours, media organisations risk becoming the echo chamber of vested interests rather than watchdogs of democracy.
They also risk eroding public trust. If readers feel that news coverage has become indistinguishable from gossip, they will tune out—or worse, assume all media is compromised.
It is instructive that even BJP State President Damu Naik, whose party stands to benefit from any realignment, has said a reshuffle is certain but no one can predict when.
This statement underscores how premature and hollow most of the chatter is. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP’s central leadership will take their decision when they see fit. In the meantime, no amount of speculative headlines will speed up the process.
A mature press recognises when it is being used and when it must resist. Goa’s media owes it to readers to set the agenda on issues that truly matter – environmental degradation, youth aspirations, transparency in governance, and sustainable development.
This is not to suggest that political coverage should stop. Politics is the engine of democracy. But it must be rooted in substance—not daily guessing games about who will be “in” or “out.”
It is time the state’s media community reflects on its priorities. Goa deserves reporting that illuminates, not distracts. Let the reshuffle unfold in its own time. Meanwhile, the focus must return to holding power to account, amplifying citizens’ voices, and building an informed society.
Only then will journalism reclaim its rightful role as the conscience of the state—not a willing megaphone for politicians’ ambitions.