Lobo’s birthday party fuels hope of cabinet post

Calangute: “A bright future awaits Michael Lobo,” said chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday as he wished the Calangute MLA on his birthday. BJP state president Damu Naik, who also attended the birthday party, wished Lobo “Ache din”.Sawant and Naik visited Lobo on his birthday, hours before art and culture minister Govind Gaude was removed from the cabinet. The senior leaders' visit raised hopes among Lobo's supporters. Many thought their MLA would replace Gaude in the cabinet.Some recalled last year's birthday party when Sawant was all praises for Lobo. He said Lobo has a bright future in BJP and acknowledged his contribution. “When Lobo quit BJP (a few months before the Feb 2022 polls), he went alone, but when he came back, he came with seven others,” Sawant said.Lobo and seven other MLAs elected on Congress ticket in Sep 2022 merged the Goa Congress Legislative Party into the BJP.Talking at the recent BJP workers' meet in Calangute, Sawant said, "Michael was like a minister.”