from daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, Feb 5: In a major late Sunday evening political development, Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane stripped Public Works Department Sudin Dhavlikar of his portfolio. He is alegislator belonging to alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
The action follows Congress' strained relations with its alliance partner MGP with majority of Congress legislators demanding that PWD Minister be dropped from the Cabinet.
The chief minister, however, retained museum, archives and archaeology portfolios with the minister while stripping off lucratic public works department portfolio from him.
Goa Rajbhavan sources confirmed that the chief minister faxed the letter informing Governor about stripping off portfolio late in the evening.
Dhavlikar, lone MGP legislator, was been a bone of contention for Congress for over last four months keeping in view forthcoming state legislative Assembly elections. MGP has decided to field 25 candidates in 40 constituencies and even had began its campaigning.
Congress leaders were irked that MGP, despite being in alliance with them, was luring voters with the developmental works like roads and other infrastructure. The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) had passed a resolution seeking severing ties with the MGP and stripping off portfolio from Dhavlikar.
The Congress high command, however, had refrained from accepting the resolution.
Dhavlikar was instrumental in forming the congress government following political coup against then BJP-led government. The MGP legislator had overnight changed his loyalty from BJP to Congress and was offered plum PWD portfolio in the bargain.
The bitterness against Dhavlikar was increasing every passing days with Congress legislators including GPCC President Ravi Naik and senior Congressman Jitendra Deshprabhu expressing strong resentment against him.
They had contended that continuing Dhavlikar on the chair would cost dear for the Congress in the ensuing state legislative Assembly elections slated mid-this year.
When contacted Dhavlikar was not available for the comments.