Pramod Sawant has been re-elected as Goa’s chief minister, with the BJP deciding to stick with the incumbent after the party improved its tally in the recently concluded assembly elections, falling just one vote short of a majority in the coastal state’s 40-member house.
The BJP’s Goa legislative party meeting on Monday decided to elect Sawant as its legislative party chief in a unanimous decision.
Sawant led a BJP delegation to Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai on Monday eveningand staked claim to form the government. He gave letters of support of three independent MLAs as well as two MLAs from the MGP.
The BJP plans a swearing-in ceremony by Wednesday. Sawant was selected as the leader after a meeting of BJP MLAs in the presence of central observers, such as Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, MoS L Murugan and Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
The former Maharashtra chief minister was heading the election campaign in Goa for the BJP. After the hour-long meeting, Tomar announced that the BJP MLAs had decided to elect Sawant as its legislative party chief.
“The motion to make Sawant the legislative party chief was moved by Vishwajeet Rane, it was supported by other MLAs like Ravi Naik, Nilesh Cabral, Rohan Khaunte,” said Tomar. “After the motion was moved, I had asked the MLAs whether there were any other claimants to the post; however, the legislatures unanimously said that they want Pramod Sawant as the CM.”
There reportedly were several claimants, with Vishwajeet Rane and Rohan Khaunte seen as contenders.
But the BJP leadership in Delhi decided to stick with Sawant. Rane has sought any of the ministries such as town and country planning, urban development or PWD, BJP sources said.
After the announcement, an elated Sawant thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his party MLAs, and the people of Goa for reposing faith in him. “We will develop Goa as per the PM’s vision. We will focus on building a resurgent Goa that would be transparent. I have the support of three independents and two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party,”said Sawant.