Goa Dy-CM Dhavalikar likely to be dropped from Cabinet, Pawaskar to replace him: Official

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to drop his deputy and MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar from the Cabinet later Wednesday, a senior official said.

Dhavalikar is likely to be replaced by MLA Dipak Pawaskar, who along with legislator and Goa tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar broke away from the MGP and merged its legislative wing with the BJP early Wednesday.

The official from the Chief Minister's office said Dhavalikar is expected to be dropped from the Cabinet.

Sources close to the chief minister also said Dhavalikar would be dropped from the cabinet during the day.

The BJP has called for an emergency meeting of its MLAs and office bearers at its head office in Panaji on Wednesday during which the merger of MGP MLAs into the party would be discussed, they said.

During the meeting, it will be decided to drop Dhavalikar and replace him with Pawaskar in the cabinet, the sources said.

Dhavalikar was designated as deputy chief minister along with Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, last week, by Sawant.

The MGP MLA is holding portfolios of transport and public works department in Sawant-led cabinet.

The merger has increased the strength of the BJP from 12 to 14 in the 36-member House, bringing them on par with opposition Congress which has an equal number of MLAs on the floor.

Pawaskar and Ajgaonkar gave the letter to merge the MGP legislature party with the BJP to officiating Goa Assembly Speaker Michael Lobo at 1:45 am.