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DEFECTION PAYS, LOYALTY IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED!BY Rajan Narayan
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DEFECTION PAYS, LOYALTY IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED!BY Rajan Narayan

Aug 23- Aug 29, 2025, Politics August 22, 2025 , by

IN Indian politics defection is more profitable than loyalty. This was dramatized yet again with the induction of Digambar Kamat as the environmental and law minister in the Pramod Sawant cabinet. Digambar has a record of very profitable defections. Digambar was the minister for power in the Manohar Parrikar government between October 2000 and February 2005. Digambar Kamat was in fact was considered the number two in Manohar Parrikar’s cabinet.
Digambar Kamat defected from the BJP and joined the Congress in the presence of Magaret Alva. Interestingly, among those who encouraged Digambar Kamat to defect from the BJP and join the Congress was businessman-social activist Datta Naik of CD Developers. Ironically, his son Chirag Datta Naik has been very critical of Digambar and his plan to contest against him in the next assembly elections.
Digambar Kamat completed the full term as chief minister between August 2007 and August 2012. The Congress did not get re-elected in the 2012 election. The BJP won a majority and Manohar Parrikar returned as the chief minister.
AFTER Manohar Parrikar died Pramod Sawant took over as chief minister of the BJP government in March 2019. The BJP induced the defection of nine Congress MLAs including Digambar Kamat and Alexio Sequeria on the promise that some of them would be included in the Cabinet. In view of stiff opposition from loyal BJP workers there was a huge delay in the defecting Congress MLAs getting their rewards. Alexio Sequeira successfully blackmailed the BJP by threatening to resign his seat in the assembly. This would have strengthen the disqualification case against the Congress MLAs.

NILESH MADE WAY FOR ALEXIO
THE BJP High Command directed a two time BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral to resign to make way for Alexio Sequiera. But Alexio Sequeira was not given the PWD portfolio held by Nilesh Cabral. Alexio Sequeria had to be satisfied with minor portfolios like law and environmental. Alexio clashed with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant constantly. However, due to his influence at the Centre, Pramod Sawant tolerated it for a long time. Fortunately for the BJP Pramod Sawant could take advantage of Sequiera’s poor health to get permission to drop him from Cabinet.
MEANWHILE Digambar Kamat has been pressing his claims to be rewarded for his defection. Digambar repeatedly pointed out to the Central leaders that he had been part of the BJP for more than two decades before he had joined the Congress. In recent times Digambar has become super religious and has a strong Hindutva support. So much so behind his back people call him “Devache.”
This used to make Digambar very angry as he was worried about his image among the minority Muslim community. The Muslims of Moti Dongor are the vote bank of Digambar. Presumably, to offset the challenge from Chirag Datta Naik, Digambar has been brought back into the BJP government in the State. The one time chief minister will have to be satisfied with the minor portfolio of environment and law.
For a long time speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has been desperately seeking a Cabinet berth. Tawadkar believes that the parties should be rewarded for ensuring that the anti-defection petitions were not enforced against the defecting Congress MLAs. Tawadkar had even threatened to revolt against Pramod Sawant. With the sacking of the minister for culture Govind Gaude, a vacancy had been created. Tawadkar has been inducted in the Cabinet as the minister for culture.

DIGAMBAR SHOULD BE CULTURE MINISTER
IT WOULD perhaps have been more appropriate if Digambar Kamat had been appointed minister for culture instead of Tawadkar. Digambar has a record of promoting Goan culture and traditions. To the extent that during Diwali celebration at the Chief Minister’s Residence Digambar served various kinds of poha preparations. Poha preparations are the traditional Goan fare offered to the deities during Diwali.
IN the past also defectors have benefited at the cost of loyal MLAs. It was the then Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate who started the trend. Babush decided to extend support to Manohar Parrikar when his government was about to fall. Parrikar rewarded him with the Town & Country Planning portfolio ministry which is a very profitable ministry. Similarly, Manohar Parrikar also rewarded Mathany Saldana, a defector, with a Cabinet berth. Parrikar was loyal to his MLAs and when Mathany died his wife was given the BJP ticket. Indeed, all those who defected to keep the BJP in power, including Pandurang Madkaikar, were rewarded.
Defection is always been a shortcut not just to the Cabinet but to the chief minister’s post. When Pratapsingh Raoji Rane defected from the MGP and joined the Congress, he was rewarded with the chief ministership. When Dr Wilfred D’Souza revolted against the Congress, he managed to occupy the chief minister’s kodel for the second time. Francisco Sardinha also took the shortcut to the chief minister’s post, but he could not retain his kodel.
The latest inclusion of Digambar in the Cabinet will only encourage further defection. Ganesh Gaonkar of Sanvordem will be the new speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

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