Told to ‘sacrifice’, Goa BJP minister Cabral resigns to make place for Congress defector in cabinet

Aleixo Sequeira, one of the eight MLAs who defected from Congress in September last year, will be inducted into the cabinet Sunday evening.

File photo of Nilesh Cabral | ANI

Mumbai: Goa minister and three-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nilesh Cabral resigned Sunday, paving the way for former Congress MLA Aleixo Sequeira to join the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led cabinet.

Nuvem MLA Sequeira, who was among the eight Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP in September last year, will be sworn in as a minister Sunday evening, Sawant confirmed to the news agency PTI.

Speaking to Goan television news channel Prudent Media Sunday, Cabral confirmed his resignation from the cabinet and said he was told to make a “sacrifice” by the party leadership. 

Addressing a press conference in Goa, Cabral said, “We are original karyakartas so we can be asked this. Other people cannot be asked to accommodate. So I did not hesitate to give (my resignation) because party requires.” Cabral said.

“I came into politics because of the late Manohar Parrikar. I was called by the central leadership and told to sacrifice as there was a prior commitment when eight Congress MLAs joined the BJP. My position doesn’t matter. What matters is the development of Curchorem,” he told Prudent Media.

Cabral held the portfolios of the Public Works Department, law and judiciary, environment, climate change and legislative affairs. He has represented the Curchorem constituency for three consecutive terms. 

ThePrint reached Cabral for comments via calls and text message. This report will be updated once a response is received.

‘Sacrifice’ for party 

Reading from his resignation letter at the press conference, Cabral said, “As requested by you and senior members of the party, due to commitments you have previously made, I tender my resignation from your council of ministers.”

The BJP retained power in Goa in the 2022 assembly election when it won 20 of the state’s 40 assembly seats, just one short of a majority. The party further bolstered its strength by getting support from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and independents. 

Then in September last year, the Opposition in Goa was further weakened when eight Congress MLAs defected to merge with the ruling BJP. 

Sequeira was the eighth MLA to defect and made it possible to take the number of defectors to 2/3rd of the Congress’s legislative strength. This made it straightforward for the defectors to merge with the BJP without facing disqualification.

(This is an updated version of the report)

(Edited by Richa Mishra)