Panji, Sep 24: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer at AIIMS, dropped two ministers from the state government cabinet, the chief minister's office said on Monday. Parrikar removed Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar who have been ailing for some time and are admitted at hospitals.

D’Souza, who was heading the urban development department, is being treated at a hospital in the USA. Madkaikar, who had suffered a brain stroke in June, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai. He was holding the state power ministry. The development comes a day after BJP national president Amit Shah said there would be changes in Goa cabinet. Parrikar to Continue as Goa CM: Amit Shah.

The BJP-led coalition government is hamstrung by the absence of Parrikar and the ruling coalition is keen to avoid a test on the floor of the House. Ever since Parrikar's hospitalisation, its ten allies, which includes three MLAs each from the Goa Forward and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, have stepped up pressure on them, seeking bigger portfolios. Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi Can’t Make Goa CM Manohar Parrikar Resign, 'Fearing Rafale Exposure'.

Nilesh Cabral and Milind Naik will take oath as ministers this evening. Naik was the power minister in the previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet, while Cabral would be inducted in the cabinet for the first time. The opposition Congress, which is the single-largest party in the state with 16 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly, has staked claim to form the government.

However, the BJP has asserted that its government continues to have the support of a majority of MLAs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2018 12:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).