After a lot of political speculations outdoors and negotiations indoors, Manohar Parrikar has been appointed as the next chief minister of Goa. The appointment was announced after Parrikar met the governor of Goa with the letter of support from regional parties, which offered to support BJP only in case of Parrikar being the CM of the state.
The announcement came after Manohar Parrikar’s name was cleared by BJP parliamentary board, which now has to look for an alternative to his defense minister’s post which goes vacant after his resignation.
In Goa, BJP was the second biggest party after congress. In an assembly of 40 seats, Congress won 17 while BJP had won 13. However, with the help of other regional parties and a few independent MLAs, BJP managed the number needed for majority in Goa. Goa Forward Party and Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party both won 3 MLAs and are now supporting Bhartiya Janata Party. Other supporters of BJP include independent MLA Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude.
Nitin Gadkari, who was also in Goa on Sunday told media that BJP has formed government in Goa under common minimum program and the main aim will be to provide a stable government to work for the development in the state.
There is still not a lot of clarity over the indoor negotiations which took place in Goa, however, according to sources familiar of the development, BJP has agreed to give 3 cabinet positions of all 3 MLAs of GFP (Goa Forward Party) and two cabinet positions to MGP (Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party). Both the independent MLAs will also get cabinet posts.
Over the last few years, Manohar Parrikar has been a household name in Goa. Along with being a popular chief minister, he was celebrated among masses for his simple lifestyle, which made him a people’s man. He was promoted to defense minister’s position in central government and his replacement Laxmikant Parsekar was not able to create an impact as big as Parrikar.
Even in the election campaign, Nitin Gadkari, who was the in-charge of Goa for BJP in the elections, hinted towards possibility of Parrikar returning as a CM in the state. The governor has given BJP 15 days to prove majority in the house, which should not be an issue after all such negotiations and Manohar Parrikar being back to lead from the front.