20 Feb 2018 | 05:49am IST
Francis to head BJP legislature wing in Parrikar’s absence
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa unanimously chose former deputy chief minister and current Minister Francis D’Souza as the party’s legislature wing leader in view of the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar from the ongoing assembly session due to his ill-health.
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa unanimously chose former deputy chief minister and current Minister Francis D’Souza as the party’s legislature wing leader in view of the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar from the ongoing assembly session due to his ill-health.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP legislature wing held at the Chief Minister’s Office at the Legislative Assembly Complex on Monday, which was attended by the party MLAs, and MPs Vinay Tendulkar, Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar.
Tendulkar, also BJP State President, told reporters that D’Souza will head the wing till Parrikar’s return. “He (D’Souza) is the senior most in the party after the CM so he will be the BJP legislature wing chief,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting on Monday.
Tendulkar, who visited Parrikar at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, where he is undergoing treatment for pancreatitis, said the CM’s health is improving.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, amongst the many ministers who met Parrikar, briefed the party about his health. “CM is fine and responding to treatment. He has been advised by the doctors to take rest so that he doesn’t pick infection,” he said.
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho wished Parrikar a speedy recovery said, “We wish him speedy recovery. We want him to come back fit and fine because Goa needs him. We pray he comes out of it (illness) as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Shripad Naik denied speculation that he is tipped to be Goa’s next Chief Minister or at least hold the office till CM Manohar Parrikar returns to Goa after treatment for pancreatitis.
“It is for the party to decide. Nobody has approached me,” he said, in reply to media queries on speculation that he will take over the reins of the State.
