Parrrikar all set for third stint as Goa Chief Minister

In a late night develoment, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha appointed Manohar Parrikar as Chief Minister and asked him to prove majority within 15 days.

On a day of fast developments here, the BJP earlier on Sunday pulled off a coup and staked claim to form the next government under Manohar Parrikar despite emerging as the second largest party behind Congress in a fractured mandate.

Enlisting the support of two independents, three members each of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and that of the lone NCP member, the BJP members led by the defence minister called upon Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday evening and formally staked the government formation claim.

"Though the BJP fell short of the numbers to form the government, with the help of alliance partners, the magical figure of 21 seats has been achieved. I promise that we will give stable government which will work towards the development of the state," Parrikar told reporters in a joint press conference with Union minister and BJP's Goa election in charge Nitin Gadkari.

"I have already staked the claim to form the government and I'm expecting an invitation from the Governor any time," he said.

The BJP stole the march on the Congress which failed to muster the numbers despite emerging as the single-largest party with the maximum 17 seats in the 40-member assembly.

The effective strength of the new coalition will be 22, including 13 members of the BJP.

The Congress was apparently counting on the support of the GFP which has won three seats in its debut election. The BJP, however, succeeded in keeping the Congress at bay.

The GFP initially had an adjustment with the Congress, but the latter fielded its nominees against Vijai Sairdesai in Fatorda and Vinod Palyekar in Siolim. Another debutante MLA of the party is Jayesh Salgaonkar from Saligaon.

Gadkari said, "When none of the parties could get an absolute majority in Goa, it was obvious that we would form the government with the like-minded parties.

"I held meetings with the MGP and the GFP leaders who put forth the condition that they would support the party only if the government is led by Manohar Parrikar.

Gadkari said he had put up the feelings of the like-minded parties before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah.

He said Parrikar would resign from the Central cabinet before taking oath as chief minister, "when he would be invited by the Governor to form the government."