Goa: Announcement Of Chief Minister's Name Today After BJP's Legislative Party Meet

The BJP fell one seat short of the majority figure in Goa but is set to retain power in the state with the help of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) and independent candidates. 

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party Legislative assembly in Goa will meet on Monday in Panaji to announce the name of the next Chief Minister as well as the date of the swearing-in ceremony.

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and L. Murugan will be present in the meeting as BJP's central observers, Goa BJP President Sadanand Tanavade confirmed on Sunday.

"The BJP legislature party meeting will be held at 4 pm at the BJP office," he informed, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Caretaker Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the frontrunner candidate for the CM post, has said that he will accept whatever responsibility the party decides to give him.

"I am happy that I was able to get 20 seats for my party. BJP observers are coming tomorrow for the Party Legislature meeting. Everything will be decided in the meeting tomorrow. I'll gladly accept the responsibility given by the party," Pramod Sawant said.

Last week, he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss government formation.

Notably, ahead of the legislature party meeting, BJP MLA Subhash Phal Desai claimed that "there's no need for further discussion on the issue of the next Goa Chief Minister since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Pramod Sawant will continue to lead the government in the state", ANI reported.

PM Modi Holds Talks With Top BJP Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party's top leaders at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday to discuss government formation in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP national president JP Nadda were present in the meeting. According to ANI sources, BJP top leadership briefed PM Modi on the discussions they held with state BJP leaders over government formation in four states.

In the recently concluded state Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa, winning 20 seats in the 40-member state Assembly while Congress was reduced to 11 seats.

The BJP fell one seat short of the majority figure in Goa but is set to retain power in the state with the help of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) and independent candidates. 

The party will stake a claim and approach Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai to form the government. 

(With Agency Inputs)