Team Herald

PANJIM: Following the recent political developments, the question of who will be the next chief minister has turned more confusing. Tuesday’s resignations of two Congress MLAs to join BJP, has added ambiguity to the issue.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, suffering from pancreatic cancer, is reportedly critical and the BJP is under pressure to name a new chief minister.

Though, on the face of it, the party has rejected media queries saying Parrikar will continue to lead, the party has begun the hunt for a new CM.

As per sources AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, BJP State unit chief Vinay Tendulkar, Speaker Pramod Sawant are the top contenders.

However, Vishwajit Rane’s 

crucial role in the resignations of Congress MLAs Dayanand Sopte and Subash Shirodkar has given a new dimension to the race. “Vishwajit’s role in bringing two Congress MLAs cannot be overlooked,” said a source in the party. 

However sources add that Sawant, who has RSS roots, is also a favourite for the top post. “More importantly, he has RSS roots and a BJP cadre, and that could work in his favour,” sources say.

Tendulkar, on the other hand, sources say has been promoting himself but may not find favour as party seniors are not backing him.

Naik is also under consideration as he is the seniormost and most respected leader in the State BJP.

The two imports – Shirodkar and Sopte – both hail from the Bhandari community to which Naik belongs and hence there is speculation of his hand in their defection to muster his strength vis-a-vis Tendulkar in the reckoning to be the chief minister as the most powerful man in the party after Parrikar.

To add to the confusion, the BJP core committee on Monday told the MLAs that the new chief minister would be from among the 13 MLAs and not anyone else.