BJP's Pramod Sawant along with his cabinet members took oath in 2-am ceremony.
Highlights
- Goa Speaker to succeed Manohar Parrikar who died yesterday: Sources
- Allies agreed to back BJP after tough negotiations, sources said
- Pramod Sawant to have two deputy chief ministers, one from each ally
The BJP's Pramod Sawant, 45, was sworn in as Goa Chief Minister at 2 am on Monday night as the nation mourned his predecessor Manohar Parrikar. The swift chain of events that ended with a hasty, post-midnight ceremony, started soon after Manohar Parrikar died on Sunday evening. The tough negotiations with BJP allies, which continued overnight, were resolved after party chief Amit Shah stepped in and two lawmakers of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) joined the BJP. Mr Sawant will have two deputies - unprecedented for the tiny seaside state. One is from the MGP and the other from the Goa Forward Party, which had objected to the former Speaker's candidature.
Here are top 10 points on the Goa government turmoil
Pramod Sawant took oath along with ministers in his 12-member cabinet that included his two deputies. Wishing him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet: "Best wishes to Dr. Pramod Sawant and his team as they begin their journey towards fulfilling the dreams of the people of Goa. I am sure they will build on the work done in the last few years and boost Goa's growth trajectory."
"I will not be able to work as much as Manohar Parrikar ji but I will definitely try to work as much as possible," Pramod Sawant, an Ayurvedic doctor, told reporters early on Tuesday.
Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party are the new deputy Chief Ministers. Both had initially demanded the chief minister's post, saying they had supported Manohar Parrikar - not the BJP -- and after him, all bets were off.
The switch by the two MGP lawmakers pushes the number of the BJP and its allies to 20 in the 40-member assembly and ends the Congress's claim of being the single largest party. Four seats are vacant after the death of two BJP members (including Manohar Parrikar) and the resignation of two Congress lawmakers.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who arrived in Goa soon after Manohar Parrikar's death, had held meetings with allies till 5.30 am. The talks continued as thousands mourned Manohar Parrikar's death and several leaders paid tribute to him before his cremation with full state honours.
As the allies refused to budge, BJP president Amit Shah, who attended the funeral, reportedly stepped in. After an evening of speculation, the oath ceremony was finally held at 2 am.
The BJP and allies have staved off any threat from the opposition Congress, which has 15 members, four short of the majority mark. The Congress had staked claim to power in two letters to the Governor in two days.
In the 2017 Goa polls, when the Congress emerged as the largest party in a hung verdict, it was Nitin Gadkari who had negotiated alliances to establish a BJP-led coalition with Manohar Parrikar - then Union Defence Minister -- as chief minister.
Manohar Parrikar, the BJP's tallest leader in Goa, was the party's most acceptable face for allies like the MGP and Goa Forward Party.
The popular Goan leader kept the fractious coalition running, even making public appearances with a nasal tube and supported by aides at the peak of his battle with pancreatic cancer.
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