Goa: Pramod Sawant resigns, suspense over CM post continues
BJP leader and Goa CM Pramod Sawant tendered his resignation to Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at Raj Bhawan Saturday as the party prepared to form the government for a third consecutive time in the state. In the recently-concluded Assembly elections, Sawant won from the traditional Sanquelim constituency—but with a thin 666-vote margin. He became Goa's CM after the demise of Manohar Parrikar in 2019.
The BJP is holding off on naming a candidate for the CM post in Goa. When asked if Sawant will be retaining the position, Goa's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane refrained from answering, calling it a "sensitive question." However, India Today reported Sawant's name has been approved by Devendra Fadnavis—the BJP's election in-charge in Goa—and the same has been conveyed to the party's state unit.
After being declared the winner from the Sanquelim seat, Sawant had said, "I have won with low margins, but we (BJP) have won with a majority. It is a big deal." "It was very challenging for me as I was campaigning state-wise but couldn't reach my own constituency. My workers campaigned for me," he added.
As the results of the Assembly elections were announced on Thursday, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa (securing 20 out of 40 seats). It also received support from a key regional party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and three Independent MLAs. Among other parties, Congress won 11 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gained two seats.
While talking to reporters after meeting with the Governor, Sawant stated the date on which his party will stake claim to form the state's new government is still to be determined. "The party's central observers will arrive in Goa and three other states (where the BJP has retained power), after which the dates of swearing-in in the respective states will be announced," he said.
