TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: After much anticipation and drama over the weekend, as to who would be outgoing chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s successor, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislative wing ended the suspense after an over two-hour meeting, where central party observers Rajiv Pratap Rudy and B S Yeddyurappa interacted with each of 21 MLAs on a one-to-one basis and announced that Laxmikant Parsekar was indeed Goa’s new chief minister.
The meeting commenced immediately after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar faxed his resignation letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha at about 12:26 pm. The closed-door discussion by BJP observers with each MLA at party headquarters occurred in the presence of Parrikar and BJP President Vinay Tendulkar.
By then BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi put the ball in Goa BJP Unit’s court about selecting the new CM. At about 3:15 pm, the waiting media persons were invited into the conference room where Rudy officially announced that Parsekar would be the successor to the top post. “Parsekar’s name was proposed by outgoing CM Parrikar and seconded by Deputy CM Francis D’Souza, Dayanand Mandrekar and Mahadev Naik,” Rudy said.
While the new Cabinet with 10 ministers was also announced, Parrikar subsequently added that a vacant seat and another Independent candidate seat would be filled by the next week. “The process of consultation could not be completed due to lack of time. By next week, it will be done. The portfolios of the nine ministers will also be declared then,” Parrikar said as the dignitaries began moving out toward Raj Bhavan where the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet was scheduled.
Parsekar, who was surrounded by 50-odd reporters and camerapersons, thanked the party for taking an unanimous decision to elevate him to the top-most position in the State. He went on to add that portfolios of the new Cabinet will be announced in consultation with Parrikar next week.
He later addressed a large group of supporters who had gathered outside the BJP office from early morning shouting pro-party and pro-Parrikar slogans. “The confusion is over… there won’t be misunderstanding now. I am happy that I have been unanimously elected. We will take the guidance of Parrikar…” Parsekar said.
