Goa Minister Nilesh Cabral Makes ‘Sacrifice’, Resigns To Clear Ministerial Berth For Turncoat MLA

Goa Minister Nilesh Cabral has resigned from the Cabinet to pave for one of the eight ‘turncoat’ MLAs who switched over to the BJP from the Congress in September last year.

Cabral resigned from the Cabinet, a day after admitting that senior party leaders had spoken to him about having to make a “sacrifice”, IE reported.

Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira, who was among the eight MLAs who had defected, will be inducted into the Cabinet, the report said. 

“Shri Nilesh Cabral has submitted his resignation from the Council of Ministers to the Hon’ble Chief Minister. Swearing-in of Shri Aleixo Sequeira to the Cabinet is scheduled today at 7 pm at Raj Bhavan,” the report quoted a government  spokesperson as having said.

Cabral, who represents the Curchorem Assembly constituency, also held the portfolios of Law and Judiciary, Environment and Climate Change, and Legislative Affairs.

Speculations about a Cabinet reshuffle – to accommodate Sequeira, former chief minister Digambar Kamat and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo – were rife for over a year. 

This is the first rejig in the state Cabinet after the Pramod Sawant-led BJP formed the government in Goa.

The report quoting sources said: “Cabral was summoned to Delhi earlier this week, where the party high command made it clear that he will have to step aside to fulfil the party’s commitment of a Cabinet berth to Sequeira, made at the time of the latter’s joining.”

The report quoting Cabral on the development said: “Three days back, there was a discussion and the party leaders said it is required to induct one of the eight MLAs. Not only me, I think they told others also… I have not been told to step down, but ‘sacrifice’ was the word used, not only for me but for other ministers also. The CM has not told me anything. I have not been told to resign yet…it was just said ‘sacrifice’ you will have to make. That’s how they said it.”