Latest news with #PrernaDivas
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Goa minister says he was given ‘chillar' portfolios, but is confident he won't be dropped from Cabinet
Amid speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle in Goa, state Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said that despite having got 'chillar' portfolios, he performed well and is confident he won't be removed from the Cabinet. Phal Dessai, who also holds Archives, River Navigation and Archaeology portfolios, was responding to questions from the media on the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle and whether he was under any pressure. 'I have been a faithful soldier of the party for the past 25-30 years. I have worked at various posts in the party — from a booth member to mandal president. I started my career as a panch member, then became a member of zilla panchayat and then an MLA,' the MLA from Sanguem constituency said. On rumours that he may be appointed Speaker of the Assembly in case of a reshuffle, he said, 'If I was appointed Speaker, how would the organisation benefit? I may be a junior minister, but I have the capacity to perform. I have been working tirelessly. If such a person is given an ornamental position, wouldn't it be a loss for the party?' Phal Dessai said he has worked on several fronts for the party, including in the organisation and election campaigns in other states. 'This is the first time I was made a minister. I have not got any lucrative portfolios. Even though I was given chillar portfolios, you can see that I have performed in all the portfolios, including river navigation, social welfare, archives and archaeology,' he said. 'I do not think I will be dropped from the Cabinet as a reward for working for the organisation. I am confident that I will not be removed from the Cabinet,' he added. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant dropped former Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude from the Cabinet on June 18, nearly three weeks after Gaude alleged corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, a portfolio held by Sawant. The controversy erupted when Gaude made a jibe at the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Ministry at a Prerna Divas event on May 25. In his speech, Gaude had said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare Department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled in the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' Gaude's ouster from the Cabinet has triggered speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle in the coastal state. Last week, Sawant said a reshuffle was not on the cards 'as of now'.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
CM mentioned there was pressure from Nadda: Govind Gaude's claim after ouster from Goa Cabinet
Days after he was dropped from the state Cabinet, former Goa Art and Culture minister Govind Gaude on Sunday asked whether it was wrong 'if a minister asks for accountability from a department'. Making a first public appearance since his ouster from the Cabinet, Gaude said at a public meeting, under the banner of Priol Pragati Manch in Goa's Marcel, that he had received a phone call from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the evening of June 18, asking him to resign. 'He mentioned that there was pressure from (BJP national president) J P Nadda. I made it clear that I would not resign, as my fight has always been for the people. Later, the Chief Minister told the media that it was his own decision (to drop me from the Cabinet),' Gaude said. 'Is it wrong if a minister asks for accountability from a department?' he asked. Gaude, a tribal leader, was sacked from the Cabinet on June 18, nearly three weeks after he alleged corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, a portfolio held by CM Sawant. The controversy erupted when Gaude made a jibe at the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Ministry at a Prerna Divas event on May 25. In his speech that day, Gaude had said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare Department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled in the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' In an hour-long speech on Sunday, Gaude said he would not quit the BJP and that he would continue to fight for the rights of the tribal community. 'I did not join the BJP to resign from the party,' he said. The legislator from Priol constituency also claimed he was not allowed to meet the party high command in Delhi over the last three-and-a-half years since he joined the BJP in 2022. Gaude said he joined the party without meeting anyone in Delhi since he had 'full faith' in the state leadership. 'After I won and became a minister, I requested to be introduced to the central party leadership. The meeting was never arranged. Now, I am starting to understand why,' he said. Gaude said he has written letters to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nadda to inform them of the 'happenings in the state'. 'I will also transcribe this speech in Hindi, English and Marathi and send it to leaders in Delhi so that no one creates a wrong narrative,' he said. Blaming the media for 'misinterpreting' his statements, Gaude asked, 'Does the government take decisions based on media reports?' Quoting from a book on the life of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Gaude said that when Parrikar was ailing and had been admitted to a hospital in 2019, he called Gaude and told him that he was considering asking MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar to lead the Cabinet. Gaude said he opposed the move and suggested Sawant's name. 'At the time, when there was a discussion about who should be the next chief minister, I suggested the name of Dr Pramod Sawant…as he is my friend and former classmate,' said Gaude. Gaude said he was 'happy' that he was dropped from the Cabinet on June 18 (Goa Revolution Day), saying it felt symbolic as 'my kranti (revolution) has always been about raising the voice of downtrodden people'.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Goa minister who made corruption allegations against CM's department dropped from Cabinet
Three weeks after he levelled corruption allegations in the Department of Tribal Welfare — a portfolio held by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant – Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude was dropped from the state Cabinet Wednesday. Goa BJP President Damu Naik told The Indian Express: 'The decision was unanimous. It was taken after consultations by the government, the party and the party's central leadership. Party discipline is a must'. Party sources said the decision to strip Gaude of his cabinet post was taken by the chief minister soon after the incident last month. The state leadership had been waiting for a nod from the central party leadership in Delhi. For the time being, the portfolios held by Gaude will be with the chief minister, sources said. BJP president Naik had gone to Delhi to meet the central leadership of the party earlier this month and submitted a report. Naik added that the decision to induct someone in the Cabinet shall be taken 'very soon'. The row erupted when Gaude, who was also holding sports and rural development portfolios, made a jibe at the alleged corruption in the tribal welfare ministry at a Prerna Divas event organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare along with the United Tribal Associations' Alliance (UTAA) on May 25. In his speech, Gaude said: 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' He went on to say: 'The construction of the Tribal Bhavan is a long-pending demand of the tribal community. They gave their land for the project… The foundation stone was laid when I was the Tribal Welfare Minister. The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' After Gaude's remarks had prompted a sharp reaction from the BJP, with Sawant warning of 'appropriate' action for 'irresponsible statements', the former minister had gone into a damage-control exercise, later claiming that he was 'misquoted' in the media. A theatre actor-turned-politician, Gaude, a 53-year-old tribal leader who represents the Priol constituency, has often courted controversies over the last several years. In February 2024, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar accused Gaude for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 26 lakh meant for organising cultural programmes in South Goa's Canacona constituency. In 2022, Gaude sparked a row when he defended the Sawant government's decision to allocate renovation work of Kala Academy in Panaji without a tendering process, saying that even the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had not 'invited quotations for building the Taj Mahal, which for 390 years has remained as it was'. In the previous BJP government, Gaude had been a minister while remaining an Independent MLA supporting the ruling party. He had then also held the tribal welfare portfolio along with the art and culture ministry. He retained his ministerial berth even after Sawant succeeded Manohar Parrikar as the CM in 2019 following the latter's demise. Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Gaude joined the BJP and won the election on its ticket from his Priol seat by defeating the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)'s president Deepak Dhavalikar.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Thespian to power play: Under BJP fire for targeting Goa CM, who is minister Gaude?
Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude's bid to level corruption allegations at the Department of Tribal Welfare under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has set off a firestorm in the state, prompting sharp reactions from both the ruling BJP and the Opposition parties. While CM Sawant has warned of action against Gaude for his 'irresponsible' statements, triggering buzz that he may be dropped from the Cabinet soon, the minister seems to be engaged in a damage-control exercise, claiming that he was 'misquoted' in the media. Ahead of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Gaude claimed, 'I have never said anything negative about the Chief Minister. He (Sawant) is a good friend of mine. I won't comment on what the Chief Minister said about me. We have already spoken about the issue.' In a post on X, Gaude said he met Sawant and clarified about the context of his controversial speech on 'Prerna Divas' last Sunday. 'While reiterating the demands of UTAA (United Tribal Associations' Alliance), my statements have been reported inappropriately. Goa CM has been sensitive to the demands of the ST (Scheduled Tribe) community and has been a friend of UTAA in its struggles,' he stated. Prerna Divas is observed in the state to commemorate the death of two tribal youths in a mob violence in 2011 when they were undertaking a campaign for the ST rights. The row erupted when Gaude, who also holds Sports and Rural Development portfolios, made a jibe at alleged corruption in the Tribal Welfare ministry at a Prerna Divas event organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare along with the UTAA. In his speech, Gaude said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' A prominent tribal leader, Gaude went on to say that 'The construction of the Tribal Bhavan is a long-pending demand of the tribal community. They gave their land for the project… The foundation stone was laid when I was the Tribal Welfare Minister. The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' Maintaining that the Tribal Bhavan project, a key demand of the UTAA, had been stalled for the past three years, Gaude called for Sawant's immediate intervention on the issue, saying, 'The Chief Minister should guide the department properly and get the issues, if any, resolved.' The Opposition parties were quick to latch on to Gaude's remarks, demanding a probe into his allegations against the CM Sawant-led Tribal Affairs ministry. The Congress's Yuri Alemao, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, said that Gaude's allegations have 'exposed the BJP government's corruption'. Alemao said, 'The Anti-Corruption Branch should probe these claims and take action against those guilty of bribery. It is time for the BJP to prioritise transparency and root out corruption. Hope the BJP does not say it is their internal matter. Party with a difference is exposed by differences.' Stung by the row, the BJP leadership signalled that it would take disciplinary action against Gaude for his 'repeated misdemeanours'. Sawant said, 'Responsible ministers should speak responsibly and avoid making irresponsible statements. I have taken cognisance (of Gaude's statements) and appropriate action shall be taken.' State BJP president Damu Naik told The Indian Express, 'BJP is a disciplined party. The discipline has to be maintained. No one is above the party. I have not met him (Gaude) since I was not in the state. I will meet him and discuss. Some action will definitely be taken.' Senior BJP tribal leader, Ramesh Tawadkar, who is also the Assembly Speaker, said if Gaude had any concerns, he should have discussed it with the CM. Gaude's allegations came days after another BJP leader and ex-minister Pandurang Madkaikar alleged that all ministers in the BJP government were 'busy counting money'. Madkaikar later withdrew his allegations. A theatre actor-turned-politician, Gaude, 53, had in 2023 essayed the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a play based on the life of the Maratha ruler. Gaude, who represents the Priol constituency, has often courted controversies over the last several years, managing to weather the ensuing storms. In February 2024, Tawadkar accused Gaude for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 26 lakh meant for organising cultural programmes in South Goa's Canacona constituency. In 2022, Gaude sparked a row when he defended the Sawant government's decision to allocate renovation work of Kala Academy in Panaji without a tendering process, saying that even the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had not 'invited quotations for building the Taj Mahal, which for 390 years has remained as it was'. In the previous BJP government, Gaude had been a minister while remaining an Independent MLA supporting the ruling party. He had then also held the Tribal Welfare portfolio along with the Art and Culture ministry. He retained his ministerial berth even after Sawant succeeded Manohar Parrikar as the CM in 2019 following the latter's demise. Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Gaude joined the BJP and won the election on its ticket from his Priol seat by defeating the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)'s president Deepak Dhavalikar. In the current row surrounding Gaude, the UTAA has backed him, saying his remarks were 'misconstrued'. UTAA president Prakash Velip said, 'The minister's intentions were not to cast aspersions on the Chief Minister. He aimed to highlight the delays caused by the Tribal Welfare ministry officials in addressing proposals related to the tribal community, including the much-anticipated Tribal Bhavan.'
