Goa: Newly sworn-in cabinet minister Aleixo Sequeira thanks PM Modi, Nadda, says "definitely happy"

Nov 19, 2023

Panaji (Goa) [India], November 19 : Aleixo Sequeira thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda after taking oath as minister of Goa Cabinet on Sunday replacing Nilesh Carbal.
On being sworn in as a minister, Aleixo Sequeira said, "I thank the Prime Minister, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nadda, I also thank party's Goa president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, definitely our chief minister Pramod Sawant and I thank all my constituents because have they not liked me as MLA I would not have been able to see this day. Overall I'm definitely happy."
"Earlier, I was an MLA, I was answerable to the people of my constituency. Now, being a minister, I am answerable to the whole of Goa. With your support, I hope I perform well," he added.
Aleixo Sequeira, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year took oath as Cabinet minister of Goa earlier today replacing Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Nilesh Carbal.
Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira was among the eight 'turncoat' MLAs who switched over to the BJP from Congress in September last year.
Cabral tendered his resignation from the cabinet led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant upon being asked by the party to make way for the induction of Sequeira.
In his resignation letter, Carbal explained that he decided to step down to uphold the commitment made by senior leaders to Congress members who had joined the BJP. He expressed that senior party leaders requested him to honour the commitment, and thus, he sacrificed his ministerial position for the party's interests.
"It is with a heavy heart that I resign from the esteemed position of Minister in the departments of PWD, Environment, Legislative Affairs, Law and Judiciary. I thank you for the continuous support and confidence you have entrusted in me," said Cabral in the letter.
He further said that he was immensely grateful for the invaluable opportunities and support provided to him during his tenure serving the people of this beautiful state.
Cabral, while speaking to ANI on his stepping down as minister, said that he resigned "out of compulsion" adding that the party "must have something in mind".
"It is out of compulsion, where BJP had made a commitment to some Congress MLAs who had merged into the BJP. When senior and tall leaders of the BJP are making the statement I don't see why I should not listen to it. I am a senior BJP leader, there is no doubt about my seniority. I am sure the party must have something in mind & in the interest of the party they asked me to resign," he said.