Parrikar Appointed as Goa CM by Governor, Asked to Prove Majority

Congress opposes the move saying it had the “first right as well as the popular mandate” to form government.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday appointed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as the new Chief Minister of Goa.

Parrikar has been asked to prove majority on the floor of the Goa Legislative Assembly within "15 days after administration of oath of office and secrecy", a letter issued by Secretary to the Governor Rupesh Kumar Thakur said.

The letter said that Parrikar had submitted evidence of support of 21 MLAs before the Governor.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has 13 MLAs, is supported by three legislators each of the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and two Independent legislators.

According to Union Minister for Roads, Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, Parrikar will resign as Defence Minister before he takes oath of office as Goa Chief Minister.

Also Read: Congress Single Largest Party in Goa, But BJP Could Form the Govt

Congress Accuses BJP of 'Murdering Democracy'

The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of "murdering" democracy in Goa and dubbed Parrikar a "villain" after the saffron party stole march on it.

Winning 17 seats, the Congress had on Saturday emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict.

We were in a position to form government in Goa after people favoured us and were in the process of doing so. But what the BJP did there is unthinkable and murder of democracy. Parrikar is the villain behind what has transpired.

Shantaram Naik, Congress Secretary told PTI

Also Read: BJP Claims Stake to Form Government in Goa With 21 Seats

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh accused Parrikar of indulging in “horse trading” and "hijacking the popular mandate which was in favour of the Congress."

It is absolutely wrong on the part of the BJP to grab power when the mandate was given to the Congress by the voters (by virtue of being the single largest party). Parrikar has brought down the morality of politics in the country. His act of indulging in horse-trading has affected the morale of Goan politicians.

Digvijay Singh, AICC General Secretary

Singh said being the single largest party, the Congress had the "first right as well as the popular mandate" to form government, which has been "hijacked by Parrikar."

BJP has been involved in horse-trading, promising sums, ministries, corporations and SUVs to non-BJP MLAs to get their support. I have never seen in any other state where a political party which has been outrightly rejected, where the CM has lost, six ministers have lost, yet they are staking claim to form the government.

Digvijay Singh, AICC General Secretary

(With inputs from IANS and PTI.)