Panaji, November 7: The BJP-led government in Goa has inducted Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar into the state Cabinet, fulfilling a political commitment made when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Congress in September 2022.
Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju administered the oath of office and secrecy to Amonkar at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Dona Paula on Saturday. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other Cabinet colleagues were present.
Amonkar’s induction fills the ministerial vacancy created following the death of former Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, who passed away on October 15, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Amonkar had won the 2022 Assembly election from Mormugao on a Congress ticket, defeating three-time BJP MLA Milind Naik by 1,941 votes. He subsequently joined the BJP along with seven other Congress MLAs in September 2022.
His appointment comes ahead of the Goa Assembly elections expected in February 2027 and marks the third former Congress MLA from the group of eight defectors to enter the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet.
Speaking after taking oath, Amonkar thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, BJP state president Damodar Naik and the party leadership for placing their trust in him. He said he would work to fulfil people’s expectations within the available time.
The allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted minister is yet to be announced.
With Amonkar’s induction, Mormugao taluka will now have two Cabinet ministers, including Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho.
