Manohar Parrikar cremated with state honours; Pramod Sawant to be the next Goa CM

Background

Panaji: BJP leader Manohar Parrikar will be laid to rest with full state honours today at Panaji's Miramar after seasoned politicians, eminent personalities from all walks of life and general public pays him last respects.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away on Sunday evening. The first BJP to be Goa Chief Minister, Parrikar headed the state from 2000-05 and 2012-14, before joining the Narendra Modi government as Defence Minister from 2014.

People will be allowed to pay their last respects to the chief minister at the academy between 11 am and 4 pm, PTI quoted a BJP spokesperson as saying. Parrikar's final journey will begin after 4 pm when his remains will be taken to Miramar area in a procession, the spokesperson said, adding that the final rites will be performed at 5 pm.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died at his private residence on Sunday. He was 63. The former Defence Minister's health, which has been fluctuating for a year, took a turn for the worse in the past two days. The condition of Parrikar turned "extremely critical" on Sunday.

A four-term chief minister and former defence minister, Parrikar had been battling a pancreatic ailment since February last year. PTI quoting its sources said Parrikar was put on life support system late Saturday night. Parrikar is survived by his two sons and their families.

His last rites will be held here on Monday evening, an official statement said.

Parrikar's body will be kept at the Bharatiya Janata Party state headquarters here, as well as at a state government-operated arts and culture centre all through the morning and afternoon, for public to pay their final respects, before being taken to the Miramar beach for cremation at 5 p.m., according to a statement from the CMO.

In view of the sitting Chief Minister's death, the state government has declared seven-day mourning. The state education board has also postponed the Higher Secondary School Certificate examination earlier scheduled on Monday (March 18) to March 27 in view of the state holiday.

18:32 PM (IST)  •  18 Mar 2019

Goa leadership stalemate nears an end. As per the sources, Pramod Sawant will be the next CM of the state. BJP has agreed to give dy CM post to Sudhin Dhawlikar. BJP President Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP Goa MLAs including Pramod Sawant have arrive at a Hotel in Panaji for a meeting.

18:37 PM (IST)  •  18 Mar 2019

The appointment of Pramod as next Goa CM was being necessitated after the untimely demise of former CM Manohar Parrikar who passed away after battling cancer for over a year on Sunday evening. Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party will be the deputy chief ministers of the coastal state.