This is an archive article published on March 13, 2017

Manohar Parrikar to take oath as Goa Chief Minister tomorrow, resigns as Defence Minister

Sunday saw the BJP outmaneuver the Congress despite winning just 13 seats in the sate.

3 min readNew DelhiMar 13, 2017 02:19 PM IST First published on: Mar 13, 2017 at 10:46 AM IST

Manohar Parrikar celebrates Holi at BJP office in Goa. (Source: Express Photo by Nirmal Haridran)

With Goa Governor Mridula Sinha clearing the decks for Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to form government in the state, the BJP on Monday revealed that his swearing-in ceremony will take place on March 14 at 5 pm. Parrikar resigned from his position as MoD ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, news agency ANI reported. He, however, will have to prove his strength in the assembly within fifteen days. After spending two-and-a-half years as Defence Minister, Parrikar will be returning to Goa for the second time as chief minister. BJP national president Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will be in attendance tomorrow for the swearing-in ceremony.

MLAs from the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party are expected to be rewarded for extending support to the Parrikar-led BJP government. Sources in the know told The Indian Express that all three GFP MLAs will be made ministers and the MGP is also likely to get two cabinet positions. Independent MLAs Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude will be given portfolios, too. BJP will have four ministers in Parrikar’s cabinet.

Sunday saw the BJP outmaneuver the Congress despite winning just 13 seats in the sate. The party managed to stitch together an alliance with estranged ally MGP and the newly-formed GFP. They also got support from two independents. This took its total to 21 — past the halway mark in the 40-seat Goa Aseembly. The Congress is the single largest party with 17 seats.

Senior Congress leaders cried foul as they accused the BJP of “stealing the elections”. Former union minister P Chidambaram claimed the BJP has no right to form the government. “A party that comes second has no right to form the Government. BJP stealing elections in Goa and Manipur,” he tweeted. Congress observer in Goa, Digvijaya Singh also claimed that “money power” won in Goa. Apologising to the people of Goa, he added that the party’s struggle against “communal forces” will continue. “Money Power has won over People’s Power. I apologise to the People of Goa as we couldn’t muster the support to form the Govt. But our struggle against Communal Forces and Money Power Politics in Goa shall continue,” he wrote on Twitter.