In a significant reshuffle, two major changes occurred in Goa's cabinet led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday. Senior BJP leaders Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat were sworn in as ministers of the state. Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju administered the oath of secrecy to both leaders at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.
Panaji: Two BJP leaders, Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat, were sworn in as ministers in the Goa Cabinet led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday. Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju administered the oath of secrecy to both at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan. In addition to Chief Minister Sawant, BJP Goa unit president Damu Naik and other senior leaders were present on this occasion.
With this move, Tawadkar and Kamat have been empowered to play an active role in the administrative and policy-making functions of the government by being included in the cabinet.
Ramesh Tawadkar's Political Journey
Two seats in the Goa cabinet had recently become vacant. On June 18, Govind Gaude was removed from the cabinet. Additionally, Alex Sequeira resigned on Wednesday citing personal reasons. Following this, Chief Minister Sawant announced that Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat would be made ministers. Hours before the swearing-in, Ramesh Tawadkar resigned from the post of Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The 57-year-old Tawadkar represents the Canacona assembly constituency.
His political journey began in 2005 when he reached the assembly through a by-election from the Poinguinim seat in South Goa. In 2007, he was re-elected from the same seat. After delimitation, he won from Canacona in 2012 and 2022. He faced defeat in 2017.
Tawadkar has previously served as a cabinet minister from April 2012 to January 2017. During this time, he handled departments such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Tribal Welfare, and Sports and Youth Affairs. In March 2022, he was elected as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, becoming the first tribal MLA to hold this position in the coastal state.
Digambar Kamat's Political History
The other new minister, Digambar Kamat, is 71 years old and currently represents the Margao constituency. Kamat served as the Chief Minister of Goa from 2007 to 2012. Kamat started his political journey with the Indian National Congress and remained in the Congress from 1989 to 1994 and from 2005 to 2022. He was first elected as an MLA from Margao in 1994, and subsequently represented the constituency multiple times.
In September 2022, he joined the BJP. Despite winning the 2022 elections from Margao as a Congress candidate, he joined the BJP on September 14, 2022, along with seven other MLAs. The inclusion of Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat is expected to enhance both stability and experience in the Pramod Sawant cabinet. Experts believe that this move will further strengthen the BJP's political hold in Goa.
With Tawadkar's experience and tribal representation, he may give a new direction to agriculture, tribal welfare, and youth affairs after becoming a minister. At the same time, Digambar Kamat's experienced leadership skills and experience as a former Chief Minister will give strategic strength to the cabinet.
