My govt will face floor test tomorrow, says new Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Newly sworn in Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said his government will face a floor test in the Assembly on Wednesday.

“We are going for the floor test tomorrow. It will happen well. There will be no problem. I am 100% confident (of the floor test). My first priority is to take control over the administration. I want to give Goa a good administration,” Sawant told reporters after attending office on the first day.

The second priority is to complete all of Manohar Parrikar’s projects that are currently ongoing.

“Thirdly, I always refer to it in my speeches and when I am in the field which is the principle of ‘Antyodaya’. I will work for the last person in the society. It will be my priority to take government schemes to the last man. So ultimately there is a development — human development also and infrastructure development.”

Sawant also requested people not to congratulate him or welcome him with flowers during the 7-day mourning period.

He had taken oath as the chief minister at 1.50 am on Tuesday after his predecessor and veteran BJP leader Manohar Parrikar passed away.

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Sawant’s swearing in was preceded by hectic parleys between top BJP leaders — president Amit Shah and Union minister Nitin Gadkari — and coalition partners, MGP and GFP, which were initially against Sawant being given the top post.

Sawant, who was the Speaker of the Assembly, was backed by 12 BJP MLAs and secured the support of six lawmakers of the MGP and the Goa Forward Party after the leaders of the two parties — Sudin Dhavalikar and Vijai Sardesai — were promised the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

Opposition Congress, with its 14 MLAs had staked claim to form the government and submitted a letter to Governor Mridula Sinha soon after the death of Manohar Parrikar.

The Opposition Congress has meanwhile termed the day’s developments as the ‘darkest day in Indian democracy’ after it was not invited to form the government despite being the single largest party and repeatedly petitioning the Governor to be invited.

“We are strongly condemning undemocratic action of Governor of Goa Smt. Mridula Sinha ji for not allowing our single largest party to form the Government, and allowing BJP to carry on horse trading despite BJP not having sufficient numbers to form the Government,” party spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said in a statement.