Pramod Sawant Sworn-In As Chief Minister In Late-Night Ceremony: Updates

MGP's Sudhin Dhavalikar and Goa Forward Party's Vijay Sardesai were sworn in as Goa's two deputy chief ministers.

The BJP's Pramod Sawant took oath at 2 am today as the nation mourned his predecessor Manohar Parrikar. The swift chain of events that ended with a hasty, post-midnight ceremony, had started soon after Parrikar died on Sunday evening. The tough negotiations with BJP allies, which continued overnight, were resolved after party chief Amit Shah reportedly 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 objected to the former Speaker's candidature.

Pramod Sawant has been sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Goa.

Goa will have two deputy chief ministers, Chief minister-designate Pramod Sawant said.

"It's a very big responsibility that party has given me. I will try my best to fulfil it. I am what I am today because of Manohar Parrikar," says Goa Chief Minister-designate Pramod Sawant

Nitin Gadkari has reached the Governor's residence in Goa.

BJP tally now at 20 after 2 Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs join party and Goa Forward Party (with 3 MLAs) and Independents (also 3 in number) support BJP

BJP has letters of support from independents and Goa Forward

Pramod Sawant expected at Raj Bhavan in the next 20 minutes

The swearing-in for the Goa Chief Minister will take place at 11 pm

Two Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP) lawmakers are moving to the BJP.

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was cremated with state honours here Monday, with thousands bidding the affable politician a fond farewell.

BJP president Amit Shah, some Union ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states attended the funeral at Miramar.

Manohar Parrikar's eldest son Utpal lit the funeral pyre.

The funeral procession started from the Kala Academy where thousands, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their last respects to the former defence minister.

The Congress Monday accused the BJP of creating an "artificial majority" in Goa at the directions of the Centre, and urged Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the opposition party to form a government as it was the single largest party, reported news agency PTI.

The coastal state is in a politically fluid situation after the death of BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Sunday. While the Congress has staked claim to form the next government, the BJP is also meeting its allies to decide on Parrikar's successor.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in New Delhi, "I will like to attract the attention of whole country as well as the media that democracy should be established (in Goa). And governors, who sit on the position of a judge, should take correct decision. The one who has a majority should form a government. It is not right for democracy if artificial majority is created as per the directions of central government," he told a press conference, reported PTI.

On Governor Sinha not responding to the Congress's demand for allowing it to form a government in the state, Mr Azad said, "The governor should work as a governor and not for a party."

He also referred to the last Assembly elections in the state and mentioned that the Congress emerged as the single largest party and tried form a government.

"What we tried before, we are trying again. When elections happened in Goa, the Congress emerged as the number one party. The BJP got fewer seats (than Congress). Now, the BJP's MLA count has gone down (further). BJP's MLA count is 11 and Congress''s is 14. We have three MLAs more as compared to them," he told reporters.

Mr Azad said among the other parties, the Goa Forward Party has three, the MGP has three, the NCP one and remaining three are independents and there is one speaker.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Monday accused the Congress party of "politicising" the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, reported news agency ANI.

"The way they have come forward to stake claim to form the government in the state shows that they had been waiting for him to die. It is highly insensitive on their part to play politics even in such situations," said Mr Sharma while talking to ANI.

Manohar Parrikar, a senior BJP leader died on March 17 evening after a prolonged battle against cancer at the age of 63.

"I was very close to him. He has done a lot not only for the state of Goa, but for India, too. He lived his life as an honest politician and served the nation till his last breath," he said.