BJP's Pramod Sawant to become Goa CM with support from allies
Panaji, Mar 18 (IBNS): With the passing away of Manohar Parrikar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has picked Pramod Sawant as the new chief minister of Goa, media reports said.
Sawant is likely to be sworn in with deputies - one from each alliance partner - which hints at a resolution between the BJP and the alliance parties, NDTV reported quoting sources.
Former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar passed away on Sunday. He had been suffering from cancer.
The BJP reportedly convinced its partners to accept Pramod Sawant, who is the Goa Assembly Speaker, after much persuasion.
The BJP's allies include Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP).
The allies agreed to support the candidature of Sawant only after a deputy CM post was promised to each party, reports said.
The step is seen as a setback for the Congress for now, who had urged Governor Mridula Sinha to "dismiss" the BJP-led government which it said was in a minority.
The Congress has 14 lawmakers in the 40-member Assembly.
The BJP, which has 12 members in the House, was able to form the government after receiving support from three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party and MGP, an Independent, and the only NCP legislator in the state.
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