No re-allocation of portfolios till 2017: Goa CM

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Thursday said there will be no change in portfolios of the current ministers till 2017 and rubbished reports of differences in the BJP-led ruling alliance. 

“There will be no re-allocation of portfolios till 2017 (when the term of current Assembly expires). There is no possibility of change in portfolios,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of local BJP workers. 

This is a departure from the stand taken by his predecessor Manohar Parrikar, who is now Defence Minister. 

Last year, Parrikar, who became Chief Minister in 2012, had announced to reshuffle his Council of Ministers by 2015. He had even undertaken an exercise to evaluate performance of the ministers, but could not complete the task as he was moved to the Centre. 

Parsekar also ruled out the possibility of breaking ties with alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) till 2017. 

“Our alliance with MGP is for this term and it will continue. We will review the alliance in 2017 when fresh polls would be held,” said the Chief Minister, rubbishing rumours about differences in the BJP-MGP coalition, which was cobbled ahead of the last Assembly polls.