Pramod Sawant will continue as Goa chief minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced after a legislature party meeting on Monday, 21 March.
His swearing-in ceremony will be held on 28 March and prominent BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will attend the event, reported news agency PTI.
"I want to thank PM Narendra Modi and Union HM 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," Sawant said after the decision on Monday, as per ANI.
"I will work for infrastructure and human development in the state. PM Modi's vision will be taken forward in Goa. We will be meeting the Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai... today where decision about the swearing-in ceremony will be taken," he added.
Meanwhile, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister & BJP's central observer for Goa, said:
"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."
The BJP secured 20 of the total 40 seats in the state's Assembly election held this year, winning a third consecutive term in Goa.
Meeting Held to Choose CM
The party's central observers for Goa, union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and L Murugan, who reached the coastal state earlier on Monday, held a party meeting in Panaji to choose the next CM.
The BJP's Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis also attended the meeting.
The leaders also met Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai .
"We've submitted the letter of support by 25 MLAs - 20 BJP MLAs, 3 Independent MLAs & 2 MGP MLAs. Governor has given us permission to form the government. We will announce the date of swearing-in ceremony soon after discussing it with the central leadership," Sawant said.
Sawant had submitted his resignation to Governor Pillai at Raj Bhawan in Panaji on Saturday, 12 March, before the formation of a new government.
Assam CM Congratulates Pramod Sawant
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma took to Twitter to congratulate Pramod Sawant on being elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party in Goa.
"Heartiest congratulations, Pramod Sawant Ji, on being elected as the leader of BJP Legislative Party in Goa. I'm confident you will steer the beautiful State towards a new era of growth & development. My best wishes!"
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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