BJP chooses Sawant to lead Goa after Parrikar
LATE-NIGHT DRAMA Assembly Speaker picked for CM post after BJP, Congress stake claim
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.