Central observers announce BJP legislative Wing unanimously elected Pramod Sawant as Chief Minister
Goemkarponn deskPANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party Legislative wing today unanimously decided to elect
Dr Pramod Sawant as the Legislative Party Leader.
Sawant led BJP today called on Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and staked a claim for government formation in Goa.
Sawant’s name for the post of CM was unanimously approved by the BJP Legislative wing, which met today evening in the presence of Central Observers Union Ministers Nar
endra Singh Tomar and L Murugan and senior leaders like Devendra Fadnavis and CT Ravi.
This will be Sawant’s second term as Goa Chief Minister. On March 20, 2019, he became CM for the first time post demise of Manohar Parrikar.
BJP, with its 20 MLAs and support of three independent and two MGP MLAs, called on Governor, proving majority in the 40-member State Assembly to stake a claim for the new government.
“BJP has unanimously declared Pramod Sawant as the next Chief Minister of Goa; we held a detailed discussion with all the 20 elected MLA’s. We will provide a stable government for the people of Goa,” said BJP Central Observer Narendra Singh Tomar.
He further said that Valpoi MLA Vishwajit proposed the name of Pramod Sawant along with other MLAs.
“I wish Pramod Sawant the best of luck and good health and that he will continue to deliver and make Goa a prosperous state. Pramod Sawant will be the Chief Minister for the next 5 years,” he added.
The delay was attributed largely due to the State of politics in Goa, which has seen MLAs frequently party hopping and bringing down governments. In the last two decades, only a handful of party MLAs have been loyal to their parties. For instance, out of the 20 BJP MLAs, 12 have a history of jumping ship from several parties.
To bring stability to the government, BJP had been working on several fronts, for starters though it has the support of three independent MLAs. The party has also roped in MGP’s Sudhin Dhavalikar.
“The MGP has played a huge role in bringing down governments. Hence Dhavalikar has been roped in, and he would also be made a minister ensure stability,” said a source in the party.
Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward party has also been approached by BJP and is also likely to announce his party’s support to the BJP.
The BJP, which has secured the support of two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs and three Independents, is yet to stake claim to form the new government in the coastal State, where the assembly poll results were declared on March 10.
The BJP won with a vote share of 33.3%, while the Congress won 23.46%, around 5 percentage points lower than 2017 tally in the State.
The BJP has appointed union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and L Murugan as the observers to oversee the government formation.
Last Wednesday, Sawant had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss government formation. He was accompanied by Goa in-charge Devendra Fadnavis, desk in-charge CT Ravi, Goa BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade and state general secretary Satish Dhond.
“Our party is grateful to the people of Goa for blessing us yet again with the mandate to serve the State. We will keep working for Goa’s progress in the times to come,” Sawant had tweeted after his meeting with PM Modi.
BJP had emerged as the single largest political force by winning 20 out of total 40 Assembly seats.
As per Sources, for the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders will remain present.
Sources in the BJP said that only five to six ministers would be sworn in in the first round, including Dr Pramod Sawant, Vishwajit Rane, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, Dr Chandrakant Shetye and Sudin Dhavalikar, while the rest would be in the next 15 days.
“The BJP Legislative Party meeting held today at 4pm. The name of Goa CM was decided unanimously in the meeting,” said Tomar.
He further said that there were rounds of Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane’s names for the post of Chief Minister as they are big names in Goa’s politics.
“We met all party workers and MLAs and concluded the election procedure for the leadership,” he said.
