Live Updates

  • 7:02 PM IST
    Race to Goa Assembly begins: Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar will be the Deputy Chief Ministers of the coastal state, reports claimed.
  • 6:55 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: BJP Leader Pramod Sawant to succeed Manohar Parrikar as new Goa CM. Swearing in at 9 PM, claimed sources.

  • 1:48 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: Meanwhile, Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said that the decision on the chief ministerial candidate will be taken by 2pm and swearing-in will be scheduled post 3pm for Monday.

  • 1:42 PM IST

  • 1:26 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) met in Panajim on Monday morning.

    Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the party MLAs decided to walk to the Raj Bhavan uninvited, after the governor refused to give them an appointment. The opposition party had written to her, staking claim to form the government on Friday and then again on Sunday.
  • 1:24 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: All 14 Congress MLAs in Goa to meet Governor to stake claim to form government, says Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar.

  • 1:22 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: Another candidate whose name is being discussed is health minister Vishwajit Rane, according to sources. While, Pramod Sawant has support of the BJP lawmakers, independent MLAs and the Goa Forward Party are throwing weight behind Rane.

  • 1:20 PM IST

    Race to Goa Assembly begins: BJP’s Pramod Sawant is believed to the forerunner in the race to become the next chief minister of Goa.


  • 1:18 PM IST

New Delhi/Panjim: A day after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (63) breathed his last, the BJP-led government of the coastal state finds itself in a huddle with its alliance partners to finalise the next chief minister. Also Read - Mira Rajput Looks Dreamy in Abstract Print Co-ords Worth Rs 20K for Goa Vacay, Shahid Kapoor Flirts

Lawmakers from the BJP-led coalition government have been holding hectic parlays since Saturday to reasses the situation in the Goa power corridor- while staring at threats from the Congress party trying to stake claim at the House. Also Read - Beware! Drinking on Goa Beaches Will Now Attract Rs 10,000 Fine

Claiming to be the single largest party in the 36-member state legislative Assembly, the Congress on Sunday formally staked its claim to form government in Goa with Governor Mridula Sinha. Also Read - Sadda Kutta Kutta Fame Shehnaaz Gill Looks Breathtaking in White Crop Top And Hot Pants In Latest IG Picture

In a letter to Sinha, Congress leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said, “The coalition partners of the Parrikar-led government had allied with the BJP on the condition that the government would be headed by Parrikar, the then Defence Minister of India. The BJP, therefore, has no allies as of now.”

Furthermore, Kavlekar stated that it was up to her (Sinha) to ensure the “smooth transition and transfer of power” in the state.

“The Congress being the single largest party, its leader is entitled to be invited to form the next government. We therefore once again stake our claim to form the government and request Your Excellency to extend the invitation to our leaders to form the next government,” the letter said.

With the demise of sitting Goa Chief Minister, the strength of 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly has been reduced to 36. BJP MLA Francis D’Souza died last month, while two Congress members had resigned last year.