Panaji, Jun 19 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said it was his decision to drop Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude from the state cabinet, but did not elaborate on the reason for it.
Speaking to reporters outside Mantralaya near here, Sawant ruled out a cabinet reshuffle as of now.
Gaude was dropped from the state cabinet on Wednesday, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by the CM.
“It was my decision,” Sawant said, without elaborating, when asked about Gaude’s removal.
Asked if cabinet reshuffle is on the cards, he said, “Nothing as of now.” Sawant said he will inform the media as and when there is any change in the cabinet.
Addressing a state-level function on May 26, Gaude dubbed the state tribal welfare department inefficient and claimed its officers were taking bribes to sign files, drawing a sharp reaction from the BJP, which warned of action.
Latching on to Gaude’s claims, Congress had demanded that Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai sack the state government for “rampant corruption”.
Gaude, a 53-year-old tribal leader representing Priol assembly segment in North Goa district, took oath in March 2022 after the BJP won the state elections.
He also served as a minister in the Sawant-led cabinet from 2019 to 22. PTI RPS GK
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