New Delhi: Pramod Sawant will return as the Chief Minister of Goa for a second term, said Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday.
"Vishwajit Rane proposed the name of Pramod Sawant as the leader of the Legislative Party. Everyone unanimously elected Sawant as the leader. He will be the leader of the Legislative Party for the next 5 years," ANI quoted Tomar as saying.
There was speculation that the BJP was in a dilemma over choosing the next CM of the state between Sawant and his former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
READ | Sanquelim Election Result 2022: Goa CM Pramod Sawant Retains Seat, Wins By 500 Votes
Following the announcement, Pramod Sawant said he would do everything possible to work for development of the state.
"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 5 years. I am glad that the people of Goa have accepted me. I'll do everything possible to work for development of the state," ANI quoted Sawant as saying.
"I will work for infrastructure and human development in the state. PM Modi's vision will be taken forward in Goa," he said.
Pramod Sawant won from the Sanquelim Assembly constituency, with a margin of just more than 600 votes.
BJP's central observers Narendra Singh Tomar and L Murugan arrived in Panaji earlier in the day to oversee the process to elect the leader of the BJP legislature party.
The 48-year-old led the BJP in Goa in the recently held Assembly election in which the saffron party managed to improve its tally by winning 20 of the 40 seats, compared to 13 five years earlier. Sawant was made the CM in March 2019 after the death of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
However, BJP's tally was one short of the majority mark. The party secured the support of two MLAs of the MGP and three Independent legislators.