PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP State president Damodar (Damu) Naik flew to Delhi on Sunday, sparking speculation of an impending cabinet reshuffle.
The visit has triggered talk in local political circles about which MLA could make the cut and be inducted into the cabinet.
Sawant’s cabinet is 11-member strong and the vacancy created by the death of Ravi Naik last October is yet to be filled.
BJP office bearers, when contacted, did not throw any light on the purpose of the Delhi visit of the Sawant-Naik duo.
For the record, they were in the capital to greet BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, the sources said, feigning ignorance of any other motive for the visit.
No details were also available on whether any meetings are lined up with central leaders of the party.
This is the second time that Sawant and Naik have gone to Delhi together after the cancellation of the April 9 Ponda by-poll.
The ministerial berth left vacant with the passing of Ravi Naik, Sawant had said earlier, would be filled only after the by-poll results, indicating that it could have been clinched by Ritesh, whom the party had nominated.
However, with the by-election itself annulled by the Bombay High Court, it was not to be, and there is now talk that one of the three women BJP MLAs could make the cut.
The sudden Delhi visit of Sawant and Naik on Sunday has therefore re-ignited speculation that the former may soon move to fill the cabinet vacancy.
