Pramod Sawant to be new Goa CM, to have two deputies


Panaji, Mar 18 (PTI): Panaji: BJP's Pramod Sawant willl be the new chief minister of Goa, party sources said here Monday, ending the suspense over who will succeed Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar, 63, who died Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer, was cremated with state honours here Monday evening.

Sawant is now Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, while the two would-be Dy CMs are Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar.

As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from two small parties backing BJP in the coastal state will be made deputy chief ministers, the sources said.

After a stalemate following a series of meetings with the allies, he BJP managed to break the deadlock, offering them their pound of flesh, by accepting the key demand for deputy CM's posts.

There was no such arrangement (Dy CM post) in place when Parrikar was the CM.

"We have managed to convince the alliance partners and finalised the formula of two deputy chief ministers for the state, a senior BJP functionary said.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday evening had said a consensus eluded the BJP and its allies on the next Goa chief minister, adding the BJP had zeroed in on the CM candidate but the allies were yet to get on board. There were a series of meetings involving the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's three MLAs each, an equal number of Independents, and BJP legislators since late Sunday night to reach a consensus on Parrikar's successor. Gadkari had flown into the state early Monday to lead the discussion.

Parrikar was heading a coalition government comprising the BJP, three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the MGP and three independents.

The Congress is currently the single largest party in the state with 14 MLAs. The BJP has 12 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, whose strength now is 36 after Parrikar's death.

The strength of the House has reduced due to demise of BJP MLA Francis D'Souza earlier this year, and Parrikar on Sunday, and resignations of two Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte last year.

All the state Congress MLAs met Governor Mridula Sinha on Monday and staked claim to form government in the coastal state. The MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, went to Raj Bhawan and handed over a letter to Sinha, saying it was the single largest party in the Assembly and should be allowed to form the government.

"We are saddened by the chief minister's demise, but before his final rites are performed, a new government has to be formed...The governor acknowledged that the Congress is the single largest party and she said she will get back to us," Kavlekar told reporters.

Parrikar was cremated with state honours here Monday, with thousands bidding the affable politician a fond farewell. BJP president Amit Shah, some Union ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states attended the funeral at Miramar.

Parrikar's eldest son Utpal lit the funeral pyre.

The funeral procession started from the Kala Academy where thousands, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their last respects to the former defence minister.

The mortal remains of the 63-year-old senior BJP leader were kept in a flower-decked hearse which left for the Miramar beach, where the last rites were performed.

The affection and popularity Parrikar enjoyed among ordinary Goans was on display as hundreds of common folks, and his party workers lined up to pay tributes to the chief minister, who died on Sunday after prolonged illness.

  

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Comment on this article

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 19 2019

    The principal of natural justice will soon catch up with the BJP in Goa for subverting the popular will of the people of the last elections.

    The people of Goa should ensure that the GFP and the MGP bite the dust in the next elections. and ensure a landslide victory for the congress so that the BJP appointed Governors go strictly by the constitution.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen D'souza, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 19 2019

    In 40 ASSUMBLY seat one CM & 2 DCM? STILL BJP HUNGRY TO BECOME A POWER. Goans wake up guys? sleeping? ask MAJORITY and kick out BJP from power. Pls BE CAREFULL ABOUT OPERATION LOTUS.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Mar 19 2019

    Why appoint in the middle of the Night ...

    DisAgree [10] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Edmond, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 19 2019

    Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai : When Congress and JDS can go to court in middle of the night then why cant this happen?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • I wish I was there, Bahrain

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    All ghatis have taken over Goa, ask this guy which was the capital before Panjim, he want have a answer.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • SmR, Karkala

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    The BJP government formation in Goa and Karnataka has more similarities. Both the government blessed by RSS leaned Governors and formed with illicit 'Operation Kamala'. In Karnataka BJP has three Chief Ministers and Two Deputy Chief Minister.
    In Karnataka BJP ministers watched 'Porn' in assembly, in Goa, they spend time in 'Casino clubs' which late CM Parrikar promised in the manifesto to close.
    Interestingly Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar wife is an active member of 'Sanatan Sanstha' whose members died in a premature blast in Margo and named in 'Saffron terror' and nationalist murder case.
    In one hand BJP asking votes on the martyrdom of Pulwama attack by terrorist, in another hand it gives Deputy Chief Ministership the political patronage to help Santhan Sanstha in various terror activity.
    Interestingly, this is the first state in India assembly held for last one year from hospitals to avoid the 'No Confidence motion' of the opposition to save the minority government in the ruling.
    Now BJP short of majority another 'operation Kamala' seems to imminent'.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [23] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Dsouza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    It was Governor's duty to FIRST call the party INC with highest MLA's to form the Govt as they did in Karnataka.
    If they failed to prove majority, then it would have been alright to call BJP coalition to form the Govt.
    BJP and their appointed Governor acted against ethics in Goa Government formation.
    Democracy hijacked for vested interests!

    DisAgree [17] Agree [57] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammed Ilyas Byndoor/Dubai.U.A.E, Byndoor/Dubai.U.A.E

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    Congratulations, Please follow the Principles of Late Manohar Parrikar.,

    DisAgree [7] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    Last Saturday I was in Goa. I saw Lot of development work is going on. From Madgoan to Panaji full flyover development. Only drawback is Garbage every where on the both sides of the Roads. Horrible. City looks dirty. Hope New CM will give importance to garbage cleaning. Hope new CM will continue the good development work. But most of the citizens not happy with present Govt.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • SJM, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    Just top up more to the alliance partners ( with Vitamin M and Penny shots) so that your seat will be permanent through Chowkidar

    DisAgree [8] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ozy, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    They can make 18 deputies to keep power

    DisAgree [10] Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    Now actual game ball in the hand of Vijay Serdesai
    Mind my words
    After 20 days all collapse

    DisAgree [13] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prashanth Shetty, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    First time in 71 years a minority party is called by RSS governor to form a govt. This is height of greediness of power hungry BJP. Otherwise manipulate EVMs.

    DisAgree [27] Agree [97] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Mar 18 2019

    We want the Goa before 2014 ...

    DisAgree [29] Agree [80] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Pramod Sawant to be new Goa CM, to have two deputies



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