Panaji: Two NCP ministers from Goa, who
recently resigned alleging lack of development in the state,
will continue to stay in the Cabinet till the end of the
Budget Session.
NCP national general secretary, Praful Patel in a
communication to the state unit said a final decision on the
resignation of both the ministers will be taken once the Goa
Assembly session is over in the first week of April.
"As the Parliament is in session, there was paucity of
time for NCP chief Sharad Pawar to consult senior colleagues
regarding the resignations," Patel said.
Revenue Minister Jose Philip D`Souza and Tourism Minister
Nilkant Halarnkar quit the Cabinet on March 14 and put down
their papers before NCP chief Sharad Pawar while Goa Chief
Minister Digambar Kamat was not informed about it.
Pawar, while accepting their resignations, had said that he would
take a final call on it only after consulting Patel.
NCP leaders said since the Budget Session of Goa Assembly
began on Wednesday both the ministers will have to continue.
The duo, apparently was under immense pressure to step
down after Pawar sought their resignation in December 2010 as
both were found hobnobbing with Congress leaders in the state.
NCP had decided to induct third NCP legislator Fransisco
Micky Pacheco in the Cabinet after dropping them but Congress
had resisted the move.
Main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tabled
1,700 questions during the session. The Chief Minister, who is
also holding the finance portfolio, will be presenting the
Budget tomorrow.
PTI
