BJP appoints Narendra Singh Tomar, L. Murugan as central observers for Goa

Suspense over CM candidate continues; new govt swearing-in only after Holi, says BJP

Amid suspense over the choice of Goa’s next Chief Minister, the BJP top leadership on Monday appointed Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry L. Murugan as observer and co-observer for the election of the leader of Goa’s legislative party.

According to sources, both will be holding one-on-one meetings with all the winning BJP candidates.

BJP Goa State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade told reporters in Panaji that the swearing- in of the new government was likely to take place only after the Holi festivities (March 18-19).

The results, declared on March 10, saw the BJP win a decisive 20 of the 40 seats besides gaining unconditional support of three independent candidates as well as the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which had contested the February 14 polls on an anti-BJP plank in alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

When asked about the inclusion of the MGP in the government, Mr. Tanavade said the decision rested with the central leadership. He nonetheless admitted that a number of the newly elected MLAs and party workers were against taking the MGP along in the new government.

While the BJP will stake claim to form government for the third consecutive term, the issue of who will fill the Chief Minister’s post continues to draw speculation given Pramod Sawant’s thin victory margin from his constituency, Sanquelim.

Mr. Sawant narrowly won by a margin of 666 votes, defeating Congress’ Dharesh Saglani. In contrast, his alleged rival within the BJP - Health Minister Vishwajit Rane - scored an emphatic win in his bastion, Valpoi, by winning with a margin of over 8,000 votes.