Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has dropped Govind Gaude from his cabinet on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, nearly a month after Gaude made public allegations of corruption within the Tribal Welfare Department, a portfolio held by the Chief Minister himself. The move follows weeks of speculation and internal deliberations within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Govind Gaude, who previously held the portfolios of Art and Culture, Sports, and Rural Development, had sparked controversy on May 25, 2025, by openly criticizing the administrative efficiency and transparency of the Tribal Welfare Department. Speaking at a "Prerna Divas" event organized by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare along with the United Tribal Associations' Alliance (UTAA) in Ponda, Gaude stated, "A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare department. If it is unable to organize this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today." He further alleged that contractors were being forced to pay bribes to have their files processed, saying, "The files of the contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan building (from where the tribal welfare department functions) on the sly. And they think we don't know of such things."
Chief Minister Sawant responded to Gaude's remarks the following day, stating that "A responsible minister should make a responsible statement. He should not make irresponsible statements. Necessary action will be taken as soon as possible." BJP state president Damodar 'Damu' Naik also took Gaude's comments seriously and summoned him to provide an explanation. On June 1, Gaude met with Naik, who then sent a report to Delhi for the party's central leadership to decide on the appropriate action.
Following his removal from the cabinet, Govind Gaude tweeted, "I have been rewarded this fate on the Goa Revolution Day for standing up for the downtrodden communities. Gratitude to my government and the party for liberating me to continue the struggle that I voiced for." Some reports indicate Gaude called the decision a "reward" for him on Goa Revolution Day, celebrated on June 18th.
The decision to remove Gaude from the cabinet was reportedly a unanimous one, reached after consultations between the government, the party, and the party's central leadership. Goa BJP President Damu Naik emphasized the importance of party discipline, stating, "Party discipline is a must." The Governor of Goa has accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister, and Gaude has ceased to be a member of the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. For the time being, the portfolios held by Gaude will be managed by the Chief Minister.
This is the second time that Pramod Sawant has dropped a cabinet minister during his current term as Chief Minister, after assuming the position in 2022. In November 2023, Nilesh Cabral was removed as the PWD minister and replaced by Aleixo Sequeira. Sawant has not yet decided whether to immediately appoint a new minister or wait until the end of the monsoon session of the assembly, scheduled to begin on July 22.
Govind Gaude's political career has been marked by both success and controversy. He was first elected as an independent MLA in 2017 and served as a minister in Manohar Parrikar's cabinet. After Parrikar's death in 2019, Gaude continued as a minister in Sawant's cabinet. In January 2022, he resigned from the cabinet and as an independent MLA to join the BJP, subsequently winning the 2022 assembly election on a BJP ticket. Gaude has also faced criticism regarding the renovation of the Kala Academy and allegations of misappropriation of government funds.
