Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

BJP chooses Sawant to lead Goa after Parrikar

Assembly Speaker picked for CM post after BJP, Congress stake claim

- Gerard de Souza letters@hindustant­imes.com

PANAJI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the chief minister of Goa after midnight on Monday in a move that capped frenzied political developmen­ts in the state following Manohar Parrikar’s cremation, which witnessed thousands turning out to pay their last respects to one of the tallest leaders of the party from the region.

Two deputy chief ministers – one each from alliance partners Maharashtr­awadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) – were also picked in the crucial political transition that was necessitat­ed by the death of 63-year-old Parrikar, who was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February last year.

Sawant’s swearing-in ceremony was initially scheduled to be held at 11pm on Monday but it was pushed back, as the BJP deliberate­d with allies late into the night to secure his position as the consensus candidate for the chief minister’s post. The 45-yearold was elected the legislatur­e party leader in the state by the BJP earlier in the day.

“The party has trusted me with a big responsibi­lity. Whatever I am today is because of Manohar Parrikar,” Sawant said as he headed to the Raj Bhawan to take oath of office after staking claim to the government in a letter to governor Mridula Sinha.

Parrikar died on Sunday evening, prompting the Congress to stake its claim to the government with 14 party MLAS. After Parrikar’s death, the number of BJP MLAS in the assembly stood at 12, with a current House strength of 36. The Bharatiya Janata Party needed the support of at least seven other legislator­s to remain in power. The BJP formed the government in the state in 2017 with the support of the MGP and GFP – both with three MLAS each – and three independen­t legislator­s. Political uncertaint­y arose in Goa during the day after a decision by the BJP top brass to elevate Sawant, the Speaker in the state assembly, was not fully accepted by the MGP and GFP initially, a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.

All MLAS of the Congress, which is the single largest party in Goa, also met the governor in the coastal state. The strength of the assembly came down to 36 after the death of BJP MLA Francis D’souza, and Parrikar on Sunday, and resignatio­ns of two Congress MLAS last year.

Thousands of supporters and BJP workers joined the funeral procession of Parrikar from the Kala Academy Arts and Cultural Centre, where the remains had been kept throughout the day for the public to pay last respects, to the nearby Miramar beach. The former defence minister’s mortal remains, wrapped in the national tri-colour, were placed on a pyre amid a 21 gun salute at the beach and his elder son Utpal Parrikar consigned it to flames. The 63-year-old leader is survived by two sons, Utpal and Abhijat. His wife died in 2001 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including PM Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu and Ramdas Athawale paid tributes to Parrikar before he was cremated. After attending the funeral, Shah led talks to finalise the contours of the leadership in the new government. The formula he worked was to allot deputy chief minister positions to the two key alliance partners – Maharashtr­awadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward Party. “Like the Parrikar government, new BJP govt will serve people of Goa,” Shah said.

Gadkari, who was in Goa since late on Sunday night, said earlier that his party had finalised its CM candidate and was in talks with allies and independen­t legislator­s to cap the leadership transition.

An ayurveda doctor by training, Sawant was a leader of the BJP’S youth wing and retained his seat from Sanquelim assembly constituen­cy in 2017. He first entered assembly in 2012. He came into prominence in the state when he led a protest in 2011 as the president of the Goa wing of BJP’S youth wing against Digambar Kamat-led Cong govt over alleged irregulari­ties in the mining sector. Sawant has held various posts in the BJP youth wing, including the post of national vice-president. Manohar Parrikar, who was then leader of opposition in Goa assembly, spotted him and mentored him. According to a BJP leader, Sawant had the backing of Parrikar, who first played an important role in giving him a ticket for Goa assembly polls in 2012. He won from Sanquelim in 2012 and 2017.

 ?? PTI ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to Manohar Parrikar.
PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to Manohar Parrikar.
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