Goa Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza says he expects to be named the next Chief Minister.
Panaji:
Goa will have a new chief minister on Saturday as Manohar Parrikar resigns and heads to Delhi, where he is expected to take over as India's next Defence Minister after a union cabinet expansion on Sunday.
Friday night, however, promises to be stormy in the tiny coastal state with what seems like a mini-rebellion in the ranks of the ruling BJP. Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza has said he expects to be named chief minister tomorrow when the party's legislators elect a new leader.
Six of the BJP's 21 Goa legislators are right now at Mr D'Souza's home and say they support his candidacy for CM. In a secret ballot, he claims he would get the support of 15 MLAs.
The Deputy chief minister is one of the front runners for the post, but his rivals are seen as stronger contenders. Both Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the state's Speaker Rajendra Arlekar enjoy the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the BJP's ideological mentor. However, Mr D'Souza clarified that he will not blame the RSS as this seems to him as the "manipulation of a few."
But Mr D'Souza insists that he should be the "obvious choice" as Deputy CM to become chief minister. "I am a four-time MLA, three-time minister, an eligible candidate," he said, and added warningly, "If I'm not CM then I will think twice if I should be in Government."
The minister says he will not "report to someone junior" in a reference to Mr Parsekar. He has also warned that a minority candidate will be seen to have been sidelined, if he is passed over for CM. "Minorities have no doubts in BJP but if this happens, then it could again create suspicion," he said, adding that minority support for the BJP could be impacted.
The BJP's central leaders BS Yeddyurappa and Rajiv Pratap Rudy will be in Goa tomorrow as observers at the meeting to elect the new Chief Minister.
Manohar Parrikar, 58, is expected to take over in Delhi from Arun Jaitley, who has held dual charge of two critical portfolios Finance and Defence.
Friday night, however, promises to be stormy in the tiny coastal state with what seems like a mini-rebellion in the ranks of the ruling BJP. Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza has said he expects to be named chief minister tomorrow when the party's legislators elect a new leader.
Six of the BJP's 21 Goa legislators are right now at Mr D'Souza's home and say they support his candidacy for CM. In a secret ballot, he claims he would get the support of 15 MLAs.
The Deputy chief minister is one of the front runners for the post, but his rivals are seen as stronger contenders. Both Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the state's Speaker Rajendra Arlekar enjoy the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the BJP's ideological mentor. However, Mr D'Souza clarified that he will not blame the RSS as this seems to him as the "manipulation of a few."
But Mr D'Souza insists that he should be the "obvious choice" as Deputy CM to become chief minister. "I am a four-time MLA, three-time minister, an eligible candidate," he said, and added warningly, "If I'm not CM then I will think twice if I should be in Government."
The minister says he will not "report to someone junior" in a reference to Mr Parsekar. He has also warned that a minority candidate will be seen to have been sidelined, if he is passed over for CM. "Minorities have no doubts in BJP but if this happens, then it could again create suspicion," he said, adding that minority support for the BJP could be impacted.
The BJP's central leaders BS Yeddyurappa and Rajiv Pratap Rudy will be in Goa tomorrow as observers at the meeting to elect the new Chief Minister.
Manohar Parrikar, 58, is expected to take over in Delhi from Arun Jaitley, who has held dual charge of two critical portfolios Finance and Defence.
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