BJP chooses Sawant to lead Goa after Parrikar
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.