MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant air-dashed to Delhi on Sunday noon to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to discuss various issues related to the State but his visit to the national capital triggered intense speculation of leadership change in the State.
Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar has also accompanied him.
Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar have also left for Delhi to attend the Parliament session which begins from Monday.
“I will discuss various issues relating to the State, especially PWD-related projects with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. I will also meet Union Home Minister, Amit Shah and if time permits I will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Sawant said to reporters at Dabolim airport.
However, with the State assembly elections due in another six months, the CM’s visit to the national capital has triggered speculation especially on the social media that Goa may soon get a new CM.
Recently, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik expressing his intention to embrace State politics in a section of the media has only added to the rumour gist.
Senior State BJP functionaries, however, dispelled any doubts on leadership change, at least as of now.
“The CM’s visit to Delhi was not sudden. It was planned at least a week back. He will be discussing some four to five State-related issues with the union ministers and other leaders in the national capital,” a top party functionary said.
He further said the CM may also discuss dates on the visit of national BJP President J P Nadda to Goa which was earlier postponed twice.
State BJP President Sadanand Tanavde could not be contacted as his mobile was switched-off.
