Margao Congress Reacts to Digamber Kamat’s Induction as Cabinet Minister

Margao Congress Reacts to Digamber Kamat’s Induction as Cabinet Minister

Margao, 21st August 2025: In response to the swearing-in of Margao MLA Digamber Kamat as a Cabinet Minister, the Margao Congress Block has asserted that this development has no impact whatsoever on the Congress Party in Margao.

“Amka bhivpachi kaslich garaz na, pun BJPche mukea mantreak chadd bhivpaci garaz assa,” said Mr. Savio Coutinho, Convener of the Margao Block Congress, while downplaying the political development.

Addressing the media alongside Lalan Parsekar, Lincoln Gomes, Anwar Naroo, Damodar Onskar, Camilo Camara, and Aneil Alvares, Mr. Coutinho said it mattered little whether the Margao MLA held a ministerial post, as Madgaonkars had already experienced multiple instances of misgovernance and corruption.

He pointed to the Rawanfond Bridge project, where costs escalated from ₹21.30 crore to ₹54 crore within a year. “We have highlighted so many fraudulent works, but instead of taking corrective action, the government has conveniently brushed them under the carpet,” Coutinho alleged.

Further criticizing the PWD department, which is under the Chief Minister, Mr. Coutinho said it had become a “hen that gives golden eggs” to the Margao MLA. “High estimated projects are tendered, but less than 50% of the work is executed. Yet contractors are paid full bills—and in some cases, even more than 100%—through arbitrary cost revisions,” he charged.

According to Mr. Coutinho, the much-publicized ‘Model Margao’ initiative was being executed purely with funds funneled through such fraudulent practices. Contractors, despite incomplete work, are paid in excess and later portrayed as philanthropists by the Margao MLA, he added.

Highlighting dissent within BJP ranks, Mr. Coutinho remarked, “Whenever we confronted original BJP workers about fraudulent works in Margao, they would admit the party was aware, but claimed the MLA’s ministerial aspirations were being blocked by BJP cadres. Today, their sentiments have been dumped in the gutters.”

Reaffirming Congress’s commitment, Mr. Coutinho said the party will continue to work with the same vigor in Margao. “Madgaonkars have already shown that joining BJP did not help the BJP nor the MLA. In 2027, we will prove that even Ministership cannot save him,” he asserted.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Coutinho quipped that with more than 50% of the current Cabinet comprising members of the erstwhile Digamber Kamat Cabinet, it was now time for Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to revise his favorite slogan to: “Bhivpachi Garaz Assa.”– Savio Coutinho, Convener, Margao Congress Block

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