Day after he spoke of ‘sacrifice’, Goa minister Cabral resigns; to make way for Congress turncoat Sequeira

In his resignation letter, addressed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Cabral said, “As requested by you and the senior members of the party, due to commitments you have previously made, I tender my resignation from your Cabinet of Ministers.”

Speaking to mediapersons, Sawant said, “We requested PWD minister Nilesh Cabral to resign in the interest of the party and he has resigned. Aleixo Sequeira, who is our senior MLA, who had joined the BJP…he is being made a minister. It is the party’s decision. Cabral is a core member of the party. Party persons have to [make] sacrifices during such a situation.”

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.

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.

On Saturday night, Cabral had told The Indian Express that the chief minister had not asked him to resign. “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,” he had said.

Sequeira had also played down the developments on Saturday night, dismissing them as speculation. “Till this minute, I have not been told by anybody that I am being made a minister. This is only speculation, just rumours. I have been hearing for over a year now that I am being sworn-in or Digambar Kamat is being inducted or Michael Lobo or that we all are being sworn-in,” he had said.