Panaji/Imphal: It's a big win for BJP as the party clinched power in two more states.


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Manohar Parrikar, who quit as Defence Minister, was on Tuesday sworn in as chief minister of Goa to head a coalition government of local allies and Independents.


The development came three days after the BJP ended up second behind the Congress in a fractured mandate.


Earlier in the day, the Congress suffered a setback in the Supreme Court which refused to stay 61-year-old Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony as sought by the party.


According to the directions of the apex court, Parrikar, who claimed to have support of 21 MLAs including 13 of the BJP, will have to prove majority on the floor of the assembly on March 16.


At a function held at the Raj Bhavan, the governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Parrikar along with nine MLAs including two members of the BJP, three of the Goa Forward Party, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and as many Independents.


They will be allotted ministerial portfolios after the floor test.


PM Modi extends wishes


Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Parrikar on becoming the chief minister of Goa and hoped that he will take the state to new heights of progress.



Addressing reporters later, Parrikar exuded confidence that his government will last its full term.


"I would prove majority on the floor of the House on Thursday only after which the portfolios would be distributed to the ministers who are inducted in the cabinet. The day after tomorrow, the procedure of proving majority on the floor of the House would be completed," he said.


Parrikar said the regional parties have taken the lead to form this government and have requested him to head the dispensation by resigning as defence minister.


"My priority would be to retain speciality of Goa that is Goanness. The statement about the common minimum programme (CMP) would be issued within a month," he said.


The BJP leader, who is an IIT-Bombay alumnus, said they have the support of 22 MLAs in total.


"There was a speculation for last two days whether BJP really got the majority required to form the government and here we are, we have 22 legislators with us," he said.


Who all took oath in 'Parrikar Cabinet'?


Among the allies who took oath along with Parrikar are Ramakrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Asgaonkar (both MGP), Vijai Sardesai, Jayesh Salgaoncar and Vinod Palyekar (all GFP), and Independents Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawade.


The two BJP MLAs who were sworn in are outgoing deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar.


BJP president Amit Shah along with Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari were present at the ceremony.


Manipur


Nongthombam Biren will be sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday morning. 


He will be sworn-in at Raj Bhavan at 10.30 a.m., the sources said. Biren and one or two elected members may take oath. 


National and regional BJP leaders are expected to be present during the swearing in ceremony. 


Meanwhile, Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed. Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who tendered his resignation on Monday night, said: "We had staked our claim to form the next ministry."


However, that hope is fading away as all other members of the non-Congress parties and the lone independent have extended support to the BJP, and the Congress has not been able to increase its strength from 28. 


Ibobi Singh had pinned his hope on the National People`s Party, which has four MLAs. However, the NPP general secretary Vivekraj Wangkhem said, "We have extended support to the BJP and it is final."


The BJP ministry is also facing troubles since the Naga People`s Front has demanded that its four MLAs should be given ministerial berths. The earlier understanding was that it would support the BJP from outside. The NPF further said that four other Naga MLAs should also be accommodated with important portfolios. 


Manipur election results


The BJP had bagged 21 seats. But the NPF and NPP with four MLAs each supported it. Besides one MLA each of the AITC, LJP and independent had supported it. Congress has been in power for three consecutive terms.