By Marcellus D’Souza

Apr 1: The Expansion of the Pramod Sawant cabinet on Monday and the allocation of portfolios was first reported by this writer on March 28, 2022 in article titled “Pramod Sawant is Chief Minisiter”. Today the news was confirmed by the CM.

The chief Minster will have to take into consideration the support extended to his government by the Sudein Dhavlikar of the MGP as well as that of Alexio Reginado Lourence of Curtorim, who chose to break away from the Congress to which he once belonged.

Alexio Reginado Lourence had fought the recently concluded assembly elections as an independent candidate winning by over 8960 votes or 40.12 vote share.

Both these MLAs could not be accommodated at the wearing-in ceremony due to inconclusive talks and Home Minister Amit Shah’s decision to accommodate the ‘dissent’ MLAs like Vishwajit Rane, Mauvin Godhino and Ravi Naik.

The assembly can have a total of 12 ministers, including the chief minister. In fact the 2-day season of the assembly was held without any MLA being allocated a portfolio.

This writer had reported that the cabinet will be expanded in the first week of April.

It now needs to be seen on Monday, who will be allocated the prestigious post of Deputy Chief Minister as this decision is crucial for the future course of the Pramod Sawant government.