New Goa CM Pramod Sawant seeks floor test on Wednesday

BJP-led government claims it has the support of 21 MLAs, including three each from GFP and MGP and three Independents.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha (right) administers the oath of the office to Pramod Sawant as the new Chief Minister of the State, at the Raj Bhavan in Panaji, Goa early on March 19, 2019.

Hours after he was sworn in, Goa’s new Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said his government had sought a floor test on Wednesday to prove its strength in the Assembly.

The BJP-led government claims it has the support of 21 MLAs, including 12 from the party; three each from the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents.

The strength of the 40-member House has been reduced to 36 due to the

death of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and BJP MLA Francis D’Souza, and resignations of Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte.

The Congress is the single largest party in the State with 14 MLAs. There is also an NCP legislator in the House.

“We have written to Governor Mridula Sinha, requesting her to hold a floor test on Wednesday to prove our strength. We are ready for it,” Mr. Sawant told reporters.

The Chief Minister said his priority was to complete all the projects undertaken by

Parrikar , who passed away on Sunday after battling pancreatic-related ailment.

Memorial for Parrikar

The government would build a memorial for Parrikar at Panaji’s Miramar beach, where he was cremated, he said.

Mr. Sawant was sworn in as Chief Minister just before 2 a.m. on Tuesday, after hectic parleys between the BJP and its allies to put a new government in place.

The Governor also administered the oath of office to 11 Ministers, including those from the MGP and the GFP. GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers.