Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who succeeded Manohar Parrikar, on Tuesday said that tackling unemployment would be the biggest chllenge before his Government.
Talking to presspersons at the State Secretariat after assuming charge as Chief Minister, Mr. Parsekar said that the government will try and create more jobs in sectors such as tourism, Information Technology and enabled Services as well as the government sector.
The State has been reeling under the pressure of an economic crisis including job losses following halt of mining activity in the State for nearly two years.
In reply to a question, he said that portfolios to the Ministers of his 10-member Cabinet will be allocated within this week.
Mr. Parsekar, who was Minister for Health in the previous BJP-led coalition government was sworn in as Chief Minister on Saturday last after the party overcame a minor rebellion over successor to Mr. Parrikar.
Francis D’Souza, who had staked claim for the Chief Minister’s post, raising the issue of his seniority after Mr. Parrikar, now continues in the new government as Deputy Chief Minister
Responding to the Goa NCP's criticism of his government as 'illegitimate', Mr. Parsekar ridiculed the party saying they could not even retain one seat in the Goa Assembly and advised them "not to forget that their ' Saheb '(supremo) is with us in Maharashtra."
