Demand of plum portfolios by BJP allies delayed Goa government transition

In the bargaining for positions since Sunday night, BJP allies MGP and GFP played hard, sources said. Both regional parties have three MLAs each.

There were reports that BJP was wooing two MLAs of MGP, in what is seen as an exercise to fortify its strength in the backdrop of demands by Congress that it should be invited by the governor to form the government as it is the single largest party with 14 MLAs against BJP’s 12. Congress staked claim to form the government for the third consecutive time on Monday.

The transition from Manohar Parrikar to the new appointee Sawant was far from smooth as consensus eluded the coalition for more than 24 hours since negotiations started on Sunday.

BJP’s pointsman, highways minister Nitin Gadkari, sources said, had a tough time convincing the allies to accept BJP nominee Sawant, which led to postponement of the swearing-in ceremony at least twice in the day.

Sawant would be the third BJP chief minister in the state since Parrikar formed the first party government in Goa in October 2000. He is a two-time MLA from Sakhali constituency in North Goa and the only one from the cadre among the 12 elected MLAs. The strength in the 40-member House has come down to 36 as two BJP legislators died in the past one month and two Congress MLAs — formerly BJP members — rejoined the saffron party five months ago.

With government formation getting delayed, there was also suspension of the legislative assembly looming large in the state. BJP, however, was willing to concede some demands of the allies to avoid it. Also, with Congress continuously staking claim and even threatening to move court, BJP was keen to form a new government in the state at the earliest.

In March 2017, letters of support had been given in the name of Parrikar by the regional parties and independents. With the demise of Parrikar and the swearing-in for a new CM, the letters needed revalidation. As stated by deputy speaker Michael Lobo, the swearing-in ceremony was tentatively fixed for 9.30am on Monday but with several rounds of discussions since Sunday late evening, the swearing-in ceremony took place late night.