Pramod Sawant Gets Second Term as Goa CM, BJP MLAs to Soon Meet Governor to Stake Claim for Govt Formation

The long-drawn suspense over Goa chief minister’s name ended on Monday after the BJP announced Pramod Sawant as the leader of the legilative party for the next five years at a meeting in Panaji.

Central observer to Goa and union minister, Narendra Singh Tomar said party leader Vishwajit Rane proposed Sawant’s name as the leader of the legislative party. “…Everyone unanimously elected Sawant. He will be the leader of the legislative party for the next five years,” Tomar added.

According to news agency ANI, after the announcement, Sawant told media, “I want to thank PM Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah to have given me the opportunity to work as the CM of Goa for next five years. I would also like to thank all my party members, supporters and people of the state of Goa. We will work for zero corruption. We will meet the governor soon.”

He added, “I am glad that the people of Goa have accepted me. I’ll do everything possible to work for the development of the state.”

Sawant and other BJP leaders will meet the governor at 7 pm and stake claim to form the government, sources said.

The BJP, as of now, has 20 MLAs in the 40-member House and the support of 3 Independents. The magic figure is 21.

BJP’s central observers, union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and L Murugan, had arrived in Panaji in the afternoon to participate in the crucial legislature party meeting. Devendra Fadnavis, the election in-charge of Goa, was also present at the meeting, besides state in-charge C T Ravi.

BJP sources said 11 ministers will be sworn in along with the CM. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Goa will tentatively take place between March 23 and 25.

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