Pramod Sawant Sworn In As Goa CM

BJP leader Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha at Raj Bhavan in the wee hours of Tuesday. Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari was also present at the ceremony.

In addition, 11 other leaders, who were part of erstwhile Goa Cabinet, including Sudhin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and BJP MLA Vishwajit Rane, to name a few, took oath as Cabinet ministers.

Speaking to ANI after taking oath as chief minister, Sawant said his aim is to complete the projects that were initiated under Parrikar’s leadership.

“I have taken oath as Chief Minister today. I feel we must proceed together with the support of the allies. The aim is to complete all the work that had begun under Manohar Parrikar’s government. I may not be able to perform as well as him (Parrikar), but I will try my best,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s post went vacant following the death of Parrikar on Sunday evening after a prolonged illness.

43-year-old Sawant represents Sanquelim assembly constituency. His wife, Sulakshana Sawant is the president of the women’s wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa.

Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members with four seats lying vacant due to deaths of two legislators, including Parrikar and resignation of two others. The by-polls on the three seats are scheduled to take place on April 23.

BJP currently has 12 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from GFP, MGP, and three independents. GFP and MGP each have three MLAs.

Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the house and is also short of the majority mark without external support. However, it had also, for the third time in two days staked claim to form a government in Goa. (ANI)