After Parrikar's death, an overnight meet yet no consensus on new CM: BJP MLA
An overnight meeting called-up by the BJP-led alliance in Goa could not decide upon the next face to lead the state, after the ruling party suffered a major loss when CM Manohar Parrikar passed away on Sunday evening.
Parrikar, who was suffering from a pancreatic ailment since February last year, hadn’t recovered and was under continuous treatment. Since the issue was diagnosed, Parrikar went to the US and thereafter, to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
Union Minister and senior BJP man Nitin Gadkari had arrived in Panaji to resolve the matter and select a new leader for the state but they could not reach a consensus. The BJP has been running the state with the help of alliance partners, which includes Goa Forward Party, the MGP and other independent MLA’s.
India will be eternally grateful to Shri Manohar Parrikar for his tenure as our Defence Minister. When he was RM, India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced India’s security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen.
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2019
BJP MLA Michael Lobo briefed the reporters saying, “Sudin Dhavalikar wants himself to be the CM, while the BJP wants that the leader of the alliance should be from their camp. We could not reach to any decision.”
Meanwhile, Vijai Sardesai, chief of Goa Forward Party reiterated the same and said, “The meeting was inconclusive and "the BJP has informed them that they will get back later during the day.”
The Congress government accused BJP of trying to save the coalition government it is running, inspite of losing the majority.
The Congress had earlier submitted its letter to the Governor Mridula Sinha, staking claim to form the government.
Goa Congress chief Chandrakant Kavlekar has stated that “The present government is as good as absent. We are staking claim with all the numbers. We are still the single largest party.”
Also read: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar dies at 63, after battling with pancreatic cancer
First published: 18 March 2019, 7:36 IST