Manohar Parrikar resigns as defence minister

The BJP, in need of seven seats to form the government, has sought an appointment with the state Governor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar will resign from the post of Defense Minister for Goa to become the CM.

As well, one Congress MLA has defected to the BJP, but the his party has said he was abducted.

Gadkari said that Parrikar has the support of the BJP Parliamentary Board and party president Amit Shah. The move has received a boost with estranged ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which has three MLAs, offering support for a Parrikar government.

Though the lone NCP member Churchill Alemao has also backed the coalition, he is yet to submit the formal letter of support.

Parrikar, along with BJP MLAs, three MGP MLAs, three Goa Forward Party MLAs and three other Independent MLAs, met the Governor to discuss the possibility of forming a government.

However, in a late night drama, the National Peoples Party with 4 seats took a u-turn and extended support to Congress, changing the equation to back in the favour of Congress.

BJP’s Manohar Parrikar was the face in Goa who was campaigning for BJP in Goa. Things looked up after the BJP’s ascension to power at the Centre in 2014. According to sources, Parrikar has made clear that he prefers Goa to Delhi. “You can interpret this the way you want”, seemed a bit cryptic, but not anymore.

Knowing this well, the Congress managers led by general secretary of AICC Digvijaya Singh took time in deciding on the CLP leader and finalsing the negotiations with GFP.

Meanwhile, the Congress hit out. As per the report, an Independent Manipur candidate and BJP candidate were seen to be travelling together.

He said that on Saturday, the NPF had issued a press statement wherein it said that it was willing to form a non-Congress government in Manipur.