TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The selection of a chief minister to replace Manohar Parrikar proved anything but smooth for the Bharatiya Janata Party after factionalism and dissensions broke out in the process.
According to sources, the chief minister’s choice was Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, but then there was the logical choice, the deputy chief minister Francis D’Souza, out holidaying in Liverpool, UK, when the news came in that Parrikar was being elevated to the Union cabinet.
Then there was Laximikant Parsekar, the ‘lucky’ president of the party. That is, whenever he was the president of the party, the party came to power. Though initially the name of Arlekar figured, this changed to Parsekar later. However, the name of the logical number two in the present cabinet did not even figure leading, to disquiet among most of the non RSS MLAs who rallied behind the lawyer from Mapusa who has won the seat for the party four times.
Even till late last night, the issue was not sorted out and at a meeting called by the chief minister with D’Souza, Parsekar and Arlekar after the cabinet meeting, D’Souza said he was unhappy with the way things are panning out and as he has been asked to meet the high command he would do so in Saturday morning and leaves.
But then Saturday morning, things changed and the high command got its way and Parsekar was selected as the chief minister with Francis D’Souza being administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Mridula Sinha after Laxmikant Parsekar, indicating he will remain number two.
Earlier, Parsekar was elected Goa BJP legislature party leader and effectively the chief minister. D’Souza was elected as the deputy leader of the legislature party and will continue as the Deputy CM. Parsekar’s name was proposed by Manohar Parrikar and seconded by Deputy CM Francis D’Souza. According to BJP central observer and MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Parsekar was elected unanimously at the legislature party meeting.
timeline
4:15 pm: The Cabinet swearing in ceremony ends at Raj Bhavan
4:12 pm: Francis D’Souza administered oath of office and secrecy, followed by other ministers by Governor Mridula Sinha.
4:05 pm: Laxmikant Parsekar administered oath as Chief Minister by Governor Mridula Sinha.
3:10 pm: Laxmikant Parsekar, elected as leader of the Goa BJP legislature party and effectively the State CM.
3:07 pm: Francis D’Souza was elected the deputy leader of the legislature party and will be the Deputy CM, Rudy tells media.
3:05 pm: Laxmikant Parsekar chosen as Goa’s next Chief Minister, says BJP central observer Rajiv Pratap Rudy. According to him Parsekar was elected unanimously at the legislature party meeting.
2:45 pm: Parsekar’s name proposed by Manohar Parrikar and seconded by Deputy CM Francis D’Souza.
1 pm: BJP leader and MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy told media that the new chief minister will be sworn-in at 4 pm Saturday. The decision will be made at the BJP legislature party meeting, he said.
12 noon: Manohar Parrikar faxed his resignation to Governor Mridula Sinha.
11 am: The BJP parliamentary board meet ends in New Delhi. The issue of Goa’s next CM was discussed at the meet. Senior BJP leader J P Nadda said after the meeting that a formal announcement on Parrikar’s successor will be made at 4 pm Saturday.
10:30 am: BJP parliamentary board meeting on in New Delhi. The agenda of the meeting is mainly to finalise the Union Cabinet reshuffle due Sunday.
9.10 pm (Nov 7): At a meeting called by the chief minister with D’Souza, Parsekar and Arlekar after the cabinet meeting, D’Souza says that he is unhappy with the way things are panning out and as he has been asked to meet the high command he would do so in the morning and leaves.
