LIVE Updates | Manohar Parrikar's Final Journey Today, Funeral Procession to Begin at 4pm

BJP MLA Michael Lobo asserted that the next chief minister has to be from the BJP. "The next CM will have to be amongst BJP MLAs," he said.
MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar, however, said nothing was finalised and a decision on leadership would be taken only after meeting Gadkari.

Dicey Alliance Support | After a meeting that was attended by leaders of his party, the MGP and Independents, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai said on Sunday evening, "No one can be taken for granted. But we all want this government to survive. No one can afford the dissolution of the assembly or keeping the House in suspended animation." Sardesai said the alliance partners will take a stand only after the BJP legislative party decides its leader.

Manohar Parrikar, who was the then Union defence minister, had taken over the reigns of the state after the BJP failed to get a majority in the 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election. 

On Sunday, a senior BJP functionary said that the new chief minister of Goa will be sworn in by Monday morning. However, the alliance partners were cryptic with their comment. When asked if they would continue to support the BJP, the alliance partners said, "no one should not be taken for granted" as their support was to Parrikar when the government was formed in 2017.

Kulkarni recalled Parrikar as an organised, popular leader since their college days at IIT Bombay and then at BJP. Both remained loyal to their ideologies but never allowed their beliefs to hamper the relationship they shared.

Bollywood Joins in Mourning | Political party leaders across spectrum remembered the IITian-turned RSS pracharak-turned-politician as the epitome of integrity. Respected and admired across party lines, he was one of Goa’s favourite sons, said Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Twitter. Although, not just political leaders cutting across various parties, several Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh and Madhur Bhandakar, expressed grief over the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. 

Manohar Parrikar's Funeral | According to the Goa CMO, Parrikar's body will be kept at the Panjim BJP head office from 9.30 am to 10.30 am after which his body will be taken to Kala Academy in Panaji for public to pay their final respects to the chief minister. His body will be kept for public viewing until 4 pm after which the funeral procession to Miramar area in the capital will be held. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Goa for the funeral.

As the nation mourns former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's demise, the National Flag will fly at half-mast across the country. The senior BJP leader will also be accorded a state funeral. Goa had also announced a seven-day mourning after the chief minister's death. All schools and educational institutions in the state will be shut today and all examinations have been postponed.

Frontrunners for Goa CM's Post |  BJP MLA Lobo said Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavalikar wanted to be the chief minister due to which the discussions came to a halt. He said a solution to the crisis is expected to be found later in the day. Lobo said BJP MLAs have suggested the names of Vishwajit Rane and Pramod Sawant for the post.

Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai with party MLAs Vinod Palyekar & Jayesh Salgaonkar along with two independent MLAs Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude arrives for a meeting with senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari early on Monday morning.

Decision on Next PM Shortly | The BJP-led alliance in Goa will decide on the next Chief Minister of Goa shortly. Besides, the death of the former defence minister, who represented the Panaji assembly seat, will also necessitate a fourth bypoll in Goa, where by-elections are scheduled for the Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa assembly constituencies on April 23. These will held in the state along with the Lok Sabha polls.

No Consensus on Next CM Yet | With the demise of chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday, the BJP core committee meeting was held on Sunday night to find his replacement. However, the BJP-led alliance in Goa failed to reach a consensus over the next chief minister in a late night meeting. The Congress, which is currently the single-largest party in Goa with 14 MLAs, is also holding a legislative meeting. According to reports, party leaders are likely to visit Raj Bhawan tonight to stake claim to form the government.

Goa CM Manohar Parrikar was known for his simplicity and man-next-door image, traits admired by fellow politicians as well as journalists.

Nation Mourns Parrikar's Demise | Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Manohar Parrikar, hailing hims as an "unparalleled leader." The Centre also announced national mourning on Monday. Several top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh will be in Goa on Monday to attend Manohar Parrikar's last rites.

The health of Manohar Parrikar, a technocrat-turned-politician and BJP stalwart, took a turn for the worse in the past two days after his medical condition fluctuated for over a year. The four-term chief minister was flown to the US for treatment in March last year. Sources said Parrikar was put on life support system late Saturday night. A widower, Parrikar is survived by his two sons and their families.

Manohar Parrikar No More | Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the 63-year-old former defence minister who had been battling pancreatic cancer for over a year, passed away at his private residence near Panaji on Sunday. The Goa CMO announced his sad demise.