Goa cabinet rejig: Ailing ministers dropped, 2 BJP MLAs to be sworn in

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Monday dropped from his cabinet two ailing ministers, who would be replaced with new faces, a senior official in the CMO said.

Both the BJP ministers -- Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar -- are currently admitted at hospitals.

The development comes at a time when Parrikar, 62, is undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Parrikar recommended the dropping of D'Souza, who was heading the urban development department, and Madkaikar, who was the power minister, from the cabinet, the official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Madkaikar was admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai after he suffered a brain stroke in June, while D'Souza is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the US.

They would be replaced with BJP legislators Milind Naik and Nilesh Cabral, the official said.

Naik and Cabral will be administered the oath of office by Governor Mridula Sinha Monday evening.

Naik was the power minister in the previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet, while Cabral would be sworn in for the first time.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah had said Sunday that Parrikar would continue in his post and announced that a reshuffle of the state's ministers would soon take place.

Parrikar's poor health has sparked speculation over his continuation as chief minister of Goa, and Shah recently sent a team of central party leaders to the state to speak to allies and take stock of the political situation.

The opposition Congress, which is the single-largest party in the state with 16 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly, has staked claim to form the government.

In another development, government statement said that BJP MLA from Mormugao, Milind Naik, a former Power Minister, and BJP MLA from Curchorem, Nilesh Cabral, would be inducted into the state cabinet later in the day.

The swearing-in has been scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Raj Bhavan, the statement said.

The ministers who have been dropped from the cabinet are Francis D'Souza, who holds the Urban Development Ministry portfolio and Pandurang Madkaikar, who was in-charge of the Power Ministry.

D'Souza, who is being treated for cancer at a New York hospital, told IANS over the phone: "I am happy with the decision. This is the fruit of working for the party for 20 long years. I have been ill for only one month."

Madkaikar is being treated in Mumbai since June when he suffered a brain stroke.

Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah on Sunday had hinted at a ministerial rejig in a tweet, which also said that Parrikar, who is being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences would, however, continue as the Chief Minister.

Parrikar has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and now Delhi, for the last seven months.

However, the BJP has asserted that its government continues to have the support of a majority of MLAs.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.