Kamat completes one year as Goa CM

Panaji, Jun 8 (UNI) Weathering a slew of crises and political coups, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat completed one year in office today.

''Whether in or out office, I am committed to striving for the betterment of 'aam aadmi' (common man). I work for a consensus approach in coalition politics besides taking the opposition with me,'' Mr Kamat averred.

Incidentally, Mr Kamat, considered second lieutenant to former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in erstwhile BJP government, emerged the dark horse to don the mantle of Chief Minister after June 2 hustings last year.

Considered as a ''stormy petrel'' with luck smiling on him always, he had survived two political coups with the ruling Congress-led coalition plunging into minority in August last and later some ministers and coalition partners withdrawing support seeking better positions.

He still continues to walk on a razor edge with one issue or the other including the controversy on SEZ sprouting. He now faces a piquant position with the Centre expressing its inability to consider his plea for withdrawing three SEZ notifications in Goa.

The Chief Minister admitted that the development had slowed down with politics taking precedence and politicians indulging in in-fighting for positions.

Despite tight-rope walk all through, he claimed that he was one of the successful Chief Ministers in the country without holding the key portfolios of Finance and Home.

UNI BM GR SKM JT BST1343