Kedar Naik Backs Michael Lobo for Ministerial Role"

SALIGAO: Saligao BJP MLA Kedar Naik has appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to induct Calangute MLA Michael Lobo into the state cabinet, stating that Lobo’s inclusion would greatly benefit the entire Bardez taluka.Naik, who is currently not holding any ministerial portfolio, expressed his contentment with his present position.“I am happy where I am. Instead of me, Michael Lobo should be made a minister. If he is given a ministerial post, it will benefit the whole of Bardez,” Naik said.The statement has triggered political discussions in North Goa, with many seeing it as a strategic move to strengthen the BJP’s presence and influence in the coastal constituencies ahead of upcoming local body elections.Michael Lobo is no stranger to cabinet responsibilities. He previously served as Minister for Waste Management and Ports during the earlier BJP-led government, where he was credited for initiating several coastal development projects. However, in a political twist ahead of the 2022 state elections, Lobo defected to the Congress along with his wife Delilah Lobo, contesting under the opposition banner.Their stint in the Congress was short-lived. In 2023, both Michael and Delilah returned to the BJP, a move seen as politically strategic by the ruling party to consolidate its grip on coastal constituencies.