CHIEF MINISTER Pramod Sawant is increasingly facing a revolt from his cabinet colleagues. The loudest voice is that of Vishwajit Rane. Vishwajit has continuously defied Pramod Sawant. Vishwajit has embarrassed the chief minister by the manner in which he has managed his Town & Country Planning portfolio.
It may be recalled that Vishwajit Rane forced through an amendment to the TCP Act giving himself absolute discretion to permit wholesale conversions. The amendment in theory permitted the TCP board to convert large quantities of orchard and farm land into commercial and settlement. The amendment was struck down by the Goan Bench of the Bombay high court.
Initially, Vishwajit Rane claimed that the amendment was in favor of the TCP. Vishwajit was against challenging the verdict of the high court and the Supreme Court. But when the TCP began cancelling the conversions made under the amendment, it began hurting Vishwajit. Rane had not just facilitated conversions but had become a partner in at least one mega luxury housing project in Bicholim. The company owned by Vishwajit Rane, Kharapur Agro, got over a hundred acres converted into settlement in Bicholim for a super luxury project by the Lodhas. Faced with the threat of returning the money, Vishwajit has now decided to challenge the high court order in the SC.

CONFRONTATIONS
THERE was another major confrontation recently between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane. The CM issued an order appointing RK Pandita as the chief town planner in the place of Rajesh Naik. The former chief town planner Rajesh Naik was made a scapegoat and suspended by Vishwajit Rane. The chief minister’s choice did not suit Vishwajit Rane. Vishwajit rejected the chief minister’s choice and appointed Vertika Dagur as the new chief town planner.
When Pramod Sawant hinted that Vishwajit could be dropped in view of the high court order, the TCP minister rushed to Delhi. Vishwajit claimed to have met Home Minister Amit Shah and even boasted that he had got the TCP portfolio on the directive of Amit Shah.
It is clear that Pramod Sawant does not have the authority to drop ministers who give him a bad name. Many of the members of Pramod Sawant’s government apparently have godfathers in Delhi.
Pramod Sawant’s helplessness is dramatized again in the case of Govind Gaude. Govind Gaude belongs to the backward classes and is the only representative of scheduled tribes in the cabinet. Unlike other BJP MLAs Govind Gaude was an independent MLA who joined the BJP. Govind Gaude acts in natak. Govind Gaude is very accomplished in playing the ghumat (traditional Goan drum). Gaude seems to be ideal candidate for the post of minister for culture. Except that he seems to have made a mess of the renovation of the Kala Academy. Nothing seems to work in the Kala Academy. A Marathi natak had to be stopped because the lighting failed. More recently during a tiatr the air- conditioning system packed up. The roof has been leaking. The expert committee headed by Kenkre has indicted the minister for culture. It’s also a huge financial scam because over Rs50 crores have been spend on the renovation.
After the committee submitted the support the chief minister should have dropped Govind Gaude from his cabinet. It would appear that the BJP high command did not give him permission to do so. Now the chief minister has put all the blame on the contractor. Pramod Sawant has asked the contractor to carry out the repairs at his own expense as punishment. The CM could have just sacked the contractor. But apparently, the contractor has connections with senior leaders in the BJP.

ATTACK CM
NOT only his cabinet colleagues but even BJP MLAs have been attacking Pramod Sawant. Michael Lobo has been engaging in a big battle with the chief minister. Michael Lobo has blamed the chief minister in his capacity as home minister for the collapse of Law and order in the Northern beach belt.
Lobo even asked the Calangute panchayat to hire bouncers. Michael Lobo desperately wants a cabinet berth as it would help him raise funds for the next elections. Pramod Sawant is under pressure both from Nilesh Cabral and Michael Lobo. It may be recalled that Nilesh Cabral was dropped to make way for Alexio Sequeira.
The CM is under more pressure as Damu Naik, the former Fatorda MLA, is now the president of the state BJP. Damu Naik is keen on including former chief minister Digambar Kamat in the cabinet. This is an attempt to marginalize Vijai Sardesai, the Fatorda MLA, who defeated the BJP president. Damu Naik is under pressure from the rebel Congress MLAs for being rewarded for having defected to the BJP. The speaker of the assembly Ramesh Tawadkar is also demanding a cabinet berth.
It is clear that Pramod Sawant is not able to enforce discipline within his cabinet. There is every chance that before the next election he may be asked to step down in favor of Digambar Kamat. Pramod Sawant postponed the cabinet reshuffle for much longer. If he does not drop Vishwajit, the TCP minister will destroy him.