Porvorim, 26th February 2026: A large number of well-wishers, party karyakartas, and citizens gathered at the GCA Ground, Porvorim on the occasion of the birthday of the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, IT, Electronics & Communications, and Printing & Stationery, reflecting widespread goodwill and public appreciation for his leadership. Since early evening, long queues were witnessed at the venue as supporters waited patiently to greet the Minister and extend their wishes. The atmosphere was celebratory, marked by enthusiasm, warmth, and a strong sense of community participation.
The event was graced by several dignitaries including Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant; Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar; State BJP President, Shri Damodar Naik; Deputy Speaker Shri Joshua De Souza; MP Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade; Minister for Social Welfare, Shri Subhash Phaldessai; MLAs Shri Rajesh Phaldesai, Smt. Deviya Rane, Shri Michael Lobo,Shri Pravin Arlekar, Shri Premendra Shet, Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, Shri Rudolf Fernandes and Shri Govind Gaude. Senior State Government Secretaries Shri Sanjiv Gadkar, Shri Shakil Ahmed and Shri Sanjeev Ahuja were also present, along with Chairman of Kala Academy Shri Chandrakant Kavlekar, Vice Chairman of Kala Academy Dr. Pravin Gaonkar, and BJP State functionaries.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant lauded the Minister’s performance, stating “Under his leadership as Tourism Minister, Goa has witnessed a steady rise in tourist footfall and the successful execution of several visionary initiatives that have strengthened the State’s tourism ecosystem. His proactive approach has ensured that tourism growth aligns with infrastructure development and long-term planning. In the IT sector as well, he has created meaningful opportunities for our youth and positioned Goa as a destination for innovation and technology-driven progress.”
State BJP President Shri Damodar Naik described the Minister as a dynamic leader and dedicated MLA who consistently works for the welfare of the people.
Expressing gratitude, the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Shri Rohan A Khaunte stated, “I am deeply humbled by the immense love and blessings extended to me today. I thank Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, BJP State President Shri Damodar Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Speaker Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Deputy Speaker Joshua De Souza, Minister Subhash Phaldesai, all respected MLAs, party workers, friends and well-wishers for their unwavering support. This encouragement strengthens my resolve to continue working with greater commitment for the development and welfare of Goa.”
A cake-cutting ceremony was held in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Rajya Sabha MP, and the BJP State President. The celebrations continued with a vibrant musical evening presented by Harmony Band. Mimicry artiste D. Satish enthralled the gathering with his performances, recreating the voices of national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NCP leader Sharad Pawar, drawing applause from the large audience present.
Earlier in the morning, a voluntary blood donation camp was organised at the MLA’s office as part of the birthday observance, underlining the spirit of service and social commitment associated with the occasion.
The overwhelming turnout at the GCA Ground Porvorim stood as a testament to the strong connection the Hon’ble Minister shares with the people and the confidence reposed in his leadership.
