Cabinet reshuffle, if any, would be out of political compulsion: Sawant

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that if he decided to go for a cabinet reshuffle, it would be based purely on political compulsions and not on the performance front.
“The decision to drop one or two ministers from the cabinet would be taken to win the next assembly elections. The party makes decisions to ensure that we win the elections again and to get 27 seats in 2027. I am confident that BJP will win for the fourth term in Goa,” Sawant said.
“Cabinet reshuffle will take place after discussions with the central leadership. Why is there a hurry for a cabinet reshuffle? Not a single department has come to a standstill, nor has it lagged in terms of performance. My ministers are working,” the chief minister said.
“The existing cabinet is doing a good job, and I don’t have any doubts about it. In case, for any other reasons, we have to accommodate someone, then it will be discussed, and a decision will be taken. It would be a political strategy. We will not drop someone because he is not performing,” Sawant said.
The chief minister said, “I am very confident that all ministers are performing, but everyone has their own style of performing. Not everyone speaks to the media about their work. Considering political strategy and in view of winning the next assembly elections, if there is a need to make some changes, then the decision would be taken as a political decision and political compulsion.”
In Jan this year, Sawant had said that there were no plans then. “There is no cabinet reshuffle as of now. Why are you concerned about it?” Sawant said.
In Aug last year, Sawant had said that he had decided to go in for a cabinet reshuffle to drop non-performing ministers. He said that the reshuffle is “on the cards” and it “will soon happen”. “There is a need for changes (in the cabinet), considering Viksit Goa. There will be some changes soon,” he had said.
In Nov 2023, Sawant dropped former PWD minister Nilesh Cabral from the cabinet and included Nuvem MLA and environment minister Aleixo Sequeira. Sequeira, who was elected on a Congress ticket, joined BJP along with seven other Congress MLAs.