Mar 15, 2017: Manohar Parrikar takes over as Goa Chief Minister for the fourth time; Governor Mridula Sinha administers oath of office and secrecy to Parrikar and 9 Ministers, 2 of BJP and 7 of allies.
The Governor had earlier invited Manhor Parrikar to form the next government in the coastal state after he submitted a letter of support from 21 legislators on Sunday.
Three MLAs from the Goa Forward Party, three from the MGP and two Independents have pledged their support to Parrikar.
The BJP has won 13 seats in the 40-member assembly and managed to garner support of regional parties and Independents.
For Manohar Parrikar, the BJP’s poster boy in Goa, it’s a homecoming and another stint as chief minister of the coastal state. Despite failing to secure a simple majority in the assembly polls, the BJP managed to successfully stitch an alliance with two regional parties besides gaining the support of two Independents.
Right from the start of campaigning in the state, the BJP had sent across a subtle message that if it wins, the government would be headed by Parrikar.
Enjoying a man-next-door image in the state, even while holding a major portfolio like Defence at the Centre, 61-year- old Parrikar led the BJP’s campaign from the front, though the party failed to hit the half-way mark of 21 in the 40-member house.
A metallurgical engineer from IIT Bombay, Parrikar, in post-poll days, displayed immense political skill in outsmarting the single largest party Congress in number games by forging a coalition winning over the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP).
Born in a middle class business family in Mapusa in north Goa, Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar graduated to the BJP from the RSS ranks. He joined the RSS in his school days and always held that the ideology and training he received from the organisation greatly helped him in public life, most importantly in decision-making.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hand-picked him as the Defence Minister in November 2014, has often lavished praises on Parrikar for his dedication and hard work, especially in the context of the surgical strike last year.
Parrikar was first elected to the Goa Assembly in 1994. He served as he leader of the opposition from June to November 1999. In a state known for political swings as well as rise and fall of ministries, Parrikar’s first stint as chief minister was from October 24, 2000 to February 27, 2002. He had his next term at the top slot in the state from June 5, 2002 to January 29, 2005. In 2012, he successfully led the BJP to power and became the chief minister for the third time, which lasted until November 2014 when he was made Defence Minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Manohar Parrikar on becoming the chief minister of Goa and hoped that he will take the state to new heights of progress. “Congratulations to @manoharparrikar and his team on being sworn in. My best wishes in taking Goa to new heights of progress,” Modi tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Supreme court orders a floor test on Thursday. The Court pulled up Congress party and asked why Congress did not demonstrate their numbers before the Governor.
The Apex Court directed that all pre-requisites for holding floor test be completed tomorrow including the formalities required by Election Commission.
The Apex court was hearing a writ petition filed by the Congress that Goa governor’s invitation to BJP to form the government is violation of the well established constitutional conventions of inviting the single largest party. (DDK News)
