Manohar Parrikar sworn in as Chief Minister of Goa


Panaji, Mar 14 (IANS): BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, who quit as the Defence Minister a day earlier, was sworn-in as Goa Chief Minister for the fourth time on Tuesday. The Supreme Court directed his new government to prove its majority via a floor test in the state assembly on Thursday.

The Congress has accused Goa Governor Mridula Sinha of acting unilaterally and inviting the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a government in Goa, without even meeting the 17 elected leaders of the Congress, which has emerged the largest party in the 40-member assembly after the state elections.

The Goa Governor administered the oath of office to Parrikar at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday evening.

While Parrikar and his nine-member cabinet were being sworn-in, hundreds of people protested near Raj Bhavan, accusing the newly appointed Chief Minister and the leader of Goa Forward of trying to subvert the electoral mandate and using unfair means to come to power in the coastal state.

Speaking to reporters after being sworn-in, Parrikar said the support garnered by the Bharatiya Janata Party was for the development of Goa.

"If there was support, then why did you (Congress) not go to the Governor? The support extended to BJP to form government is only for Goa's development," Parrikar told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

The four-time Chief Minister also said the Congress could not stake claim to form government because "no MLA wanted to support the Congress".

Parrikar's cabinet includes two ministers from the BJP, namely Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar, three from regional party Goa Forward -- namely Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Palienkar and Jayesh Salgaonkar, and two from another, older regional party Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party -- Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Azgaonkar.

Two Independent legislators Govind Gawde and Rohan Khaunte who joined the BJP coalition bandwagon on Sunday also were rewarded with berths. The third Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar also joined the BJP coalition on Monday and tendered his letter of support to the Governor.

The 13-member BJP legislature party -- the second largest after tghe Congress's 17 -- has been supported by three MLAs each from the Goa Forward and MGP and three Independent MLAs, taking the majority headcount to 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Parrikar on his new appointment.

"Congratulations to @manoharparrikar and his team on being sworn in. My best wishes in taking Goa to new heights of progress," Modi said in a tweet.

Earlier on Tuesday, hectic political developments played out in Goa as well as the national capital, where the Supreme Court, which was hearing a petition filed by the Congress challenging the Governor's invitation to the BJP to form government, directed Parrikar to prove his majority on the floor of the Goa assembly by Thursday.

Governor Sinha while inviting Parrikar on Sunday to form the government had directed him to prove his majority in the assembly within 15 days from being sworn-in.

The apex court on the Congress petition, however, refused to interfere with the Governor's decision to appoint Parrikar as the Chief Minister.

Before the Supreme Court hearing, the Congress camp met at the state party headquarters, from where its 17 newly-elected legislators, in presence of Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, were ferried to Raj Bhavan in a bus.

After meeting Sinha, state Congress President and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro said the party had requested her that the Congress should be allowed to form a government as the single largest party with 17 MLAs as against the BJP's 13. To this, the Governor said that she would consider the request.

"Governor is the custodian of law and Constitution and is supposed to invite the single largest party to office... There cannot be a headcount here, it has to be in the assembly... Governor has told us that she will consider it and let us know," Faleiro told reporters.

In the evening, when Parrikar and his cabinet were being sworn-in several hundred civil society members protested with black flags around Raj Bhavan, claiming both the BJP and Sardesai had hijacked the people's mandate.

Sardesai's Goa Forward had led an anti-BJP campaign in the run-up the February 4 elections, accusing the saffron party of destroying Goa and corruption.

The apex court also rejected the plea by senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi for a composite floor test.

The directions came after Congress legislature party leader in the Goa assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar moved a plea, seeking Governor Sinha's decision to appoint Parrikar as the Chief Minister to be put on hold.

The Congress termed Sinha's decision to invite the BJP to form the next government as "unilateral" and accused the BJP of "stealing" the mandate in the state using money.

"It's a question of how much money the BJP has thrown to steal the mandate in Manipur and Goa. That's the question," Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi told the media outside Parliament in New Delhi.

Inside Parliament House, Congress members slammed the BJP, which they said was "not accepting people's mandate" in Manipur and Goa and staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed their adjournment motion notice on the issue.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members also joined the Congress in the walkout.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Devi, Managalore

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    Congratulations sir, all the best in your endeavors, Show people of Goa that if BJP comes to the power what not they can achieve, Give all the basic facilities to them, and even make Goa has tourist place. when the tourist comes to the Goa, they should get all the amenities/infrastructure to enjoy and they should feel encouraged to come back to Goa.
    As you are a Third time Cheif minister u will show people that what you could do to improve their lifestyle off corse with their own help and involvement.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af,,, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    What a shame, as a IITians he does not know what to say during oath ceremoney , he sworn as minister and some one from audience told him as chief minister , this is the result of back door entry .

    DisAgree [18] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • The Alpha, Bangalore

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    I somehow get a feeling that this guy will be like " BJP ka minister na state ka na centre ka" after few months..

    DisAgree [10] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lewis, udupi

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    Goa is lucky to have BJP.. now Ban Beef and lets c how many tourist will come.

    DisAgree [19] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Karkala

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    In 2013 Delhi stae election
    BJP was the single largest party won 31 seats.
    AAP won 28 seats
    Congress won 8 seats.
    AAP formed government with congress support.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    A shameless who entered the flight through cargo loading door!

    DisAgree [18] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pinto, BLR

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    Now he can sleep nicely for 5 years like he was caught napping during this years republic day parade in front of world dignitaries !!!

    DisAgree [18] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Congress has succeeded making 'ghar wapsi' of CM Parrikar from his national ambition to be minister.

    By denying 'composite floor test' proves the Governor, Court and BJP is one side, which blatant violation of constitution.

    It also proved that Parsekar with RSS affiliation is the worst CM. Is Rajnath Singh will be next CM of UP pulled from Home ministry?

    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [20] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    ..Do you know Governor has given 15 days to prove majority..Congress had plenty of time to cobble majority & to fail floor test of PARIKKAR instead they ran to SC..But SC reduced the days to 2 days..whose fault!!..every one knows Congress failed to decide CM, failed convince a ally and failed to get majority..otherday SC was great savior now you are saying they are BJP side!!..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, Udupi

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Power has gone to the hands of rogues rascals and freebooters....This Govt may not last beyond 2 months. God will give justice soon in Goa.

    DisAgree [29] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Madhukar, Udupi

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    its not people's elected govt. it is bjp elected govt.!

    DisAgree [25] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • santhu, Mumbai/Udupi

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Goa is lucky to have such CM.

    DisAgree [44] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • SKM, MANGALORE

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Why BJP is so power hungry?. I will make commoners to doubt its credentioals

    DisAgree [31] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • SKM, MANGALORE

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    It will make commoners to doubt its credentials

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • ABD, LOS ANGELES

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    DID YOU FORGET BBMP?? WHEN B.J.P WAS 2 SHORT OF MAJORITY CONGRESS HIJACKED INDEPENDENTS INTO RESORT WITH THE HELP OF JDS AND NOW YOU ARE BLAMING B.J.P IS STEALING POWER....OH GOD

    DisAgree [12] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Congress in Goa is same like nidderamayya in Karnataka.

    They are lazy . They didn't try to contact independent and small party MLA's.

    Lazy people. They were probably fighting against each other as who will become cm?

    DisAgree [36] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    By hook or crook Modi made him CM. THIS IS CALLED INDIAN POLITICS.

    DisAgree [23] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABDUL RAFIQ, Uchila

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    We already handed over our nation to the hands of saffron team in 2014. Now they are taking over all the states one by one. They hijacked even country's top court also. Nothing left for others. Now onwards no need to conduct the election in any state or central by spending billions of rupees. Just elect the BJP unanimously. BJP having it's own 40% hindutwa vote bank across the country and anti BJP votes are dividing into many parts. So no use of contesting election against BJP until we will have two party system in the country. Namo Namaha...........................

    DisAgree [30] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • m, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    You seem to be frustrated. Smell the coffee.
    Days of the minority appeasement is over.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    The candidates who defeated BJP candidates are the same who turned around to support you.
    India had gone to the Donkeys ...

    DisAgree [24] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • m, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Sour grapes?
    People have rejected appeasement politics

    DisAgree [11] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • GOVINDA, manglaore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    amarinder singh lukiest person in the world.......watch what happend in goa and manipur........

    DisAgree [4] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    .media reports says when GADKARI was negotiating with smaller parties, the Congress was fighting to select CM face..when they got the news BJP succeeded in getting allies, in a hurry burry they selected Chandrakant Kavlekar..its said even Kavlekar was surprised by this..Congress didnt had any planning, they didnt had plan B for hung assembly..now they cry,,

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deepak, Mangaluru/oman

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    This is called UP and DOWN in life.... hehehehehehe

    DisAgree [5] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Elwyn Goveas, Valencia

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    GO GOA GONE FOR BJP
    stealing the power

    DisAgree [31] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABD, LOS ANGELES

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    DID YOU FORGET BBMP?? WHEN B.J.P WAS 2 SHORT OF MAJORITY CONGRESS HIJACKED INDEPENDENTS INTO RESORT WITH THE HELP OF JDS AND NOW YOU ARE BLAMING B.J.P IS STEALING POWER....OH GOD

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Is it promotion or demotion?

    DisAgree [11] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • kumar, Dxb

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Loose motion

    DisAgree [8] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 15 2017

    For khangress people

    DisAgree [4] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathnakara A, Shirva

    Tue, Mar 14 2017

    Nothing! One more nail on Congress Coffin

    DisAgree [36] Agree [46] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Manohar Parrikar sworn in as Chief Minister of Goa



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