In midnight ceremony Sawant takes oath as CM

PANJIM: Culminating over 24 hours of talks and negotiations, Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant took oath of office and secrecy as the new Chief Minister of Goa around 1.50am on Tuesday.

Along with him MGP leader Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar and GFP president Vijai Sardesai took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. The oath was administered by Governor Mridula Sinha. 

MGP president Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar has given a written assurance to the BJP that he would withdraw from the Shiroda bypolls.

Goa’s game of thrones saw multiple twists and turns during the day. Earlier it had almost been decided that the government would be formed without Dhavalikar as the other two MGP MLAs Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar had met Gadkari and Amit Shah and offered to join BJP.

Moreover, what was worse for Sudin was the two make up 2/3rd of majority for a split and would not need to resign from the Assembly if they decided to split the party.

This was the turning point as Sudin who was bargaining hard, rushed to the resort in Dona Paula where the BJP leadership was meeting and met BJP leader Gadkari.

Splitting the MGP, sources say, was Sardesai’s Plan B, which he was talking of for last two months. Now it was the turn of Sardesai to act pricey who took his own time to give offer of support.

For the second consecutive time, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo turned out to be the saviour. He was ably helped by Vishwajit Rane in tough negotiations with GFP, MGP and Independents.

It took almost four to five rounds of meeting to finally strike the deal between the coalition partners.

While there was unanimity on Sawant as CM after the initial opposition, it was the demands of two deputy CMs that had delayed the final decision. The allies wanted two Dy CMs for Sardesai and Dhavalikar, which was not acceptable to Gadkari, who said only national president Amit Shah would decide on it.

Even though the administration called for a 11pm swearing in, there was no one from the BJP or allies who had even staked claim to form the government as there was no letter of support. The ceremony started at around 1.50am on Tuesday.

The final round of talks started at 10.50pm on Monday at the resort as G6 arrived for final negotiations. In a hard bargain, sources said, Sardesai got most of his demands considered.

Earlier in the day, hectic political activities continued as BJP failed to convince MGP, GFP and Independent for a consensus on the Chief Ministerial candidate. Even Gadkari sounded irked over allies’ lack of response. 

During a marathon meeting which continued from Saturday midnight to wee hours on Sunday, BJP zeroed in on Sawant and Rane. The alliance partners were not agreeable to Sawant’s candidature, while BJP was reluctant on Rane. 

“We are yet to reach to any consensus on candidates for CM’s post. Talks are on with the alliance partners. BJP has already decided who should be their leader. The issue is only with the alliance members,” Gadkari had told the media after first round of meeting on Monday. 

On Monday, Dhavalikar and Rane were the first to meet Gadkari at the starred hotel in Dona Paula. The meeting, which was later attended by Azgaonkar and Pawaskar, lasted for nearly 45 minutes. 

Speaking to media persons, Dhavalikar said that decision by MGP legislative wing will be taken only after executive committee meeting. He said the executive committee will decide whether to support BJP in government formation. 

On the other hand, Rane refused to speak about the meeting. He left with Dhavalikar in his car directly to Sardesai’s residence, where G6 - Rohan Khaunte, Vinod Palyekar, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Prasad Gaonkar and Govind Gawade were waiting since early morning. 

Lobo was also part of the meeting at Sardesai’s residence, where the allies were bent not to accept Sawant’s candidature. Later GFP and MGP proposed that both Sardesai and Dhavalikar be given the deputy CM posts, to which BJP was skeptical.  

At the hotel, continuous meetings between Gadkari and BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar, Sawant, Lobo, Rane, BJP desk-incharge B L Santosh continued, as party failed to reach to any conclusion. “Everything should be finalised by 2.00pm and the swearing in will take place after 3.00pm,” Tendulkar had said at around 12.20pm. However no such developments took place. 

Later Lobo confirmed that the CM candidate had been finalised and talks were on with the alliance partners. 

From the hotel, the picture shifted to Sardesai’s residence, where BJP organisational secretary Satish Dhond, MLA Nilesh Cabral, Tendulkar reached to convince the alliance partners. 

“Talks are inconclusive. Nothing is decided as yet. Let us finish the final rites of Parrikar and then decide on the politics later,” Sardesai told media at around 4.40pm as he along with the other G6 members left to attend the funeral of the former Chief Minister at Miramar.