Pramod Sawant (45), former Speaker of the Goa legislative Assembly and BJP MLA from Sankhelim in north Goa, was on early Tuesday morning sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of Goa, succeeding Manohar Parrikar, who died on Sunday after a prolonged battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.
He was administerd the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhavan by Governor Mridula Sinha.
Along with the Chief Minister, Sudin alias Ramkrishna Dhavlikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. The entire Cabinet of Manohar Parikkar has been retained. The Ministers who were also sworn in included Manohar Ajgaonkar (MGP), Rohan Khavtye (independent), Govind Gaude (independent), Vinod Palyekar (Goa forward), Jayesh Salgaonkar (Goa Forward) and four of the BJP, namely, Mauvin Godinho, Vishwajit Rane, Milind Naik aand Nilesh Cabral.
The BJP-led alliance has a strength of 21, which includes 12 of the BJP, three each of the MGP and the Goa Forward Party and three Independents in the truncated House of 36 (40). The Congress has 14 MLAs, while the Nationalist Congress has one.
Thousands pay tributes to Parrikar
The final rites of Parrikar, four-time Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister, were performed at the Miramar beach on Monday evening. A 21-gun salute was accorded to the BJP stalwart.
Parrikar’s elder son, Utpal, lit the pyre as thousands bid adieu to the departed leader, affectionately referred to as ‘Bhai’ across Goa.
The final journey of Parrikar began from the Kala Academy in Panaji with thousands joining the cortege. Hundreds of common people and party workers lined the street to pay tributes to the leader.
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