How Goa CM rose to national prominence
PANAJI/NEW DELHI: Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar, 63, from a business family in Parra village (from which his family derives its name), not only dominated state politics for two decades but was also a rare national leader from Goa. From the moment he became the state’s first BJP chief minister in October 2000 — after causing a split in the ruling Congress, which won a full majority 11 months earlier — Parrikar became the mainstay of Goa politics. ››P9
After the President’s tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi led a chorus of tributes to Parrikar, calling him an “affable leader” and “admired” leader.
“My condolences to his family in this time of grief.shri Manohar Parrikar was the builder of modern Goa. Thanks to his affable personality and accessible nature, he remained the preferred leader of the state for years. His pro-people policies ensured Goa scales remarkable heights of progress,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Gandhi said he was “deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Goa CM… who bravely battled a debilitating illness for over a year.” “Respected and admired across party lines, he was one of Goa’s favourite sons,” the Congress president added.
Parrikar is survived by two sons – Utpal and Abhijeet. He lost his wife to cancer in 2001.
Goa appeared headed for political turmoil after Parrikar’s death, with the BJP’S strength in the state assembly going down to 12 MLAS. The Congress staked its claim to the government in Goa a day earlier on Saturday, as reports of Parrikar’s deteriorating health prompted the BJP to go into an emergency huddle to consider alternatives.
The Congress said on Saturday that the BJP’S strength had diminished to 13 following the death of its legislator Francis D ’Souza last month. After Parrikar’s death on Sunday, the BJP’S strength in assembly stood at 12.
The Congress has 14 MLAS in the assembly that has a current effective strength of 37. Since the state elections in 2017, three Congress legislators have resigned and joined the BJP. One of them was re-elected on a BJP ticket and bypolls for other two seats are still to be held.
Parrikar, who was an Indian Institute of Technology graduate, made a mark as chief minister of Goa when the politics in the state was hit by defections and unstable governments. He became the Goa CM for the first time in October 2000 after a split in the ruling Congress. Parrikar projected himself as a leader who reached out to people across religious boundaries, attempting to woo the state’s 26% Catholic community. He was appointed the country’s defence minister between November 2014 and February 2017. However, Parrikar returned to Goa politics after the BJP failed to win a majority in the state assembly in 2017. In the 40-member assembly, the Congress emerged as the largest party with 17 MLAS and the BJP stood second with 13.