Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Likely To Return To Goa As Chief Minister

“We have received letters of support from the MGP and from two Independent legislators”, Tendulkar said.

Parrikar was appointed Defence Minister in November 2014, when he was the Chief Minister of Goa. Pre-empting a similar announcement in Manipur, it has also sent a letter claiming first right to form the government.

The resignation of rival party MLAs who then contest on BJP tickets is an old BJP strategy which it carried out with success in Karnataka.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who was elected to the Manipur assembly for consecutive fourth term, said that, people of the state want peace and protection of territorial integrity.

“We do not see anybody else in legislature party of BJP capable of leading Goa”.

“Our political opponents (BJP) despite losing the mandate of the people have tried to misrepresent to your good-self that they enjoy the majority support of legislators”. Party sources say the leader of the legislator party will be selected after Holi that is on Monday.

The ruling Congress has emerged as the largest party by winning 28 seats, followed by the BJP with 21 seats in the 60-member Assembly.

Naga Peoples Front (NPF) bagged four seats as in the last elections while National Peoples Party (NPP) also jumped from zero to four seats in this election, All India Trinamool Congress which bagged seven seats in the last elections along with Lok Jan Shakti Party and Independent, won just one seat each. PTI reported, a section of party leaders is also talking about eight-time MLA Suresh Khanna besides Home Minister Rajnath Singh, whose profile makes him a natural claimant for the job.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh (BJP) has won the Konthoujam seat defeating his rival, Konthoujam Sharat Singh of the congress. Heikham Dingo Singh (BJP) secured the Sekmai seat defeating his closest rival Khwairakpam Devendro Singh of the congress.

While some experts speculated that anti-incumbency facilitated the BJP’s victory, others suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity played a big role in BJP’s win since the major issues that people in Uttarakhand were discussing were development and restructuring of the state in the aftermath of devastating floods in 2013. Nitin Gadkari is camping in Goa to explore the possibility of forming a government of BJP.

“We are confident of getting the required numbers and stake claim to form the government on Monday”, Lobo said.