Panaji: BJP MLAs Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat were sworn-in in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet on Thursday, in a function held at Raj Bhavan, near here.
Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju administered oath of secrecy to Kamat and Tawadkar in a function that was attended by Chief minister Pramod Sawant, BJP Goa Unit President Damu Naik amongst others on Thursday afternoon.
Minutes before the swearing in, Tawadkar resigned as the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly.
The 57-year-old MLA from Canacona Assembly constituency is a BJP member who was first first elected to the Goa Assembly in the year 2005 during a by election at Poinguinim constituency in South Goa.
He was re-elected from the same constituency in the year 2007 and after delimitation he contested and won from Canacona Assembly segment in 2012 and again in 2022. He had lost in the 2017 election.
Tawadkar served as a cabinet minister from April 2012 till January 2017 and had handled portfolios like Agriculture; Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Tribal Welfare and Sports & Youth Affairs.
He was elected as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly on 29 March 2022, becoming the first tribal MLA from Goa to hold the post.
Second minister, Digambar Kamat was the Congress chief minister of Goa from 2007-2012.
The 71-year-old MLA from Margao assembly constituency began his political journey with the Indian National Congress (INC) (1989–1994, 2005–2022). He later returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in September 2022.
He was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly from Margao constituency since 1994, serving multiple terms. He held the post of Chief Minister of Goa from 8 June 2007 to 9 March 2012.
Kamat was elected from Margao assembly constituency on a Congress seat in 2022 election but later joined BJP along with seven other MLAs on September 14, 2022.
