Goa minister Govind Gaude’s sacking delayed as CM Sawant awaits Delhi’s nod

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant’s decision to drop his cabinet colleague Govind Gaude has been delayed by a couple of days as he is waiting for the approval from BJP central leadership.

TOI had reported that Sawant and BJP state unit had decided to drop Gaude on Saturday, but had not got the party central leadership nod.

Top sources in the party said the decision to drop the art and culture minister has been firmed up and there was no going back on it. “It is just a formality. We need the central leadership’s approval and till late Saturday we did not receive any clearance from Delhi, which has delayed the decision by a couple of days.”

The move to drop Gaude from his minister’s post came after he made serious allegations of corruption in Sawant-held tribal welfare department.

Gaude had made a scathing attack on the tribal welfare department last Sunday and raised questions about the department’s administrative efficiency and transparency.

His comments were soon amplified by the United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) functionaries, who started coming out in open support of Gaude and threatening govt.

Piqued by the poor turnout at a UTAA function, Gaude had launched a diatribe against govt.

“A huge amount of taxpayers’ money is allotted to the tribal welfare department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it only shows a lack of control over the administration,” Gaude had said.

Gaude also made allegations about some behind-the-scenes operations. “The files of the contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan building (from where the tribal welfare department functions) on the sly. And they think we don’t know of such things,” he had said.

A day later, Sawant strongly came down on his cabinet colleague for raising serious charges against him and had said, “action will be taken against Gaude”.

“A responsible minister should make a responsible statement. He should not make irresponsible statements. Necessary action will be taken as soon as possible,” Sawant had said.