Pramod Sawant (45), former Speaker of the Goa legislative Assembly and BJP MLA from Sankhelim in north Goa, was 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.
Goa bids adieu to Manohar Parrikar
As the shots of the 21-gun salute rent the air, former defence minister and Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s mortal remains were laid to rest with full state honours on Monday. The gun shots were loud, but nothing could drown the shouts of hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the Miramar beach near Panaji to catch a glimpse of the final rites. Many were denied a view because of the large crowd and the VVIP cordon. Many tried to push their way through, while others desperately tried to find contacts.
Even a big screen installed outside the venue to broadcast the last rites did not satisfy the grieving citizens, who continued to scream as the Naval band played a tribute and the Tricolour in which Parrikar’s remains were covered were handed over to his elder son Utpal. As the pyre was lit, Parrikar’s sisters Lata Sankhwalkar and Jyoti Kotnis broke down in tears, appearing visibly shaken by the loss.
Among the VVIPs who attended the funeral were Union minister for highways Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for commerce and industry Suresh Prabhu, BJP national president Amit Shah, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Ajit Doval, junior minister for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union minister for textiles Smriti Irani offered prayers at the Kala Academy in Panaji, where Parrikar’s body was kept for people to pay respects.
Union Ayush minister Shripad Naik, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, additional solicitor general of India Atmaram Nadkarni were among those who remained constantly by Parrikar’s body through the day.
