Goa portfolios allocated

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday allocated portfolios to 12 ministers yesterday, while retaining Home, Finance, Personnel, Administration, Education and several other portfolios.

Expectedly, the veteran politician from Margao and a close Parrikar aide, Digambar Kamat, has been given the Power portfolio, while Dr Suresh Amonkar has been asked to look after Health.

Parrikar stated that the rest of the portfolios will be allocated in two more stages. Yesterday's round is an indicator that Parrikar intends to push forward the various development plans initiated by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Goa.

Parrikar has also decided to do away with the post of a deputy chief minister. He has gone on record to state that the senior-most minister in his cabinet will be the acting chief minister in his absence.

Seven of the 12 chosen in the BJP-led coalition government are "old hands" while another three are making their debut as ministers.

"I will review the efficiency and progress made by each of the ministers every six months," Parrikar promised.

"Our government has initiated several schemes for the sustained development of the state and we are here to ensure that these schemes are completed," he added.

Meanwhile, the newly formed cabinet has decided to convene the legislative assembly on June 12. The governor's address will be on June 13 while the budget will be presented and the vote of account sought from the elected representatives the next day.

Goa Cabinet:

Manohar Parrikar (Home, Finance, Personnel, Administration, Education, etc)
Digambar Kamat (Power)
Dr Suresh Amonkar (Health)
Babu Azgaonkar (Panchayati Raj)
Ramrao Dessai (Industries)
Felipe Neri Rodrigues (Water Resources Development)
Sudin Dhavalikar (Public Works Department)
Pandurang Madkaikar (Transport)
Atanasio Monserrate (Town and Country Planning)
Francis D'Souza (Information Technology)
Mickky Pacheco (Tourism)
Vinay Tendulkar (Forest)
Dayanand Mandrekar (Agriculture)