Goa speaker Pramod Sawant succeeds Manohar Parrikar as CM PANAJI: Goa Speaker Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the 13th chief minister post-midnight on Monday after BJP got letters of support from its allies on the assurance that both Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader Ramkrishna Dhavalikar would be made deputy chief ministers.It is the first time that the tiniest state will have two deputy chief ministers. Though an official communication said 46-year-old Sawant would be sworn in by 11 pm, grueling discussions between BJP and its allies GFP, MGP and independents delayed the swearing-in to late night. Sawant, who resigned from the speaker’s post, was sworn in along with 11 cabinet ministers, who were part of the late chief minister Manohar Parrikar ’s cabinet.BJP sources said smaller parties and independents have not left the NDA fold and are aware that a prolonged stalemate may lead to House dissolution. BJP leaders have argued that polls held now could well give an advantage to the party as they coincide with a perceived upswing post-air strikes in Balakot. The muscle flexing by GFP and MGP for portfolios of choice and designations kept the state in political flux and raised doubts over government formation.<doc-sep>Pramod Sawant faced a vote of confidence during which his government garnered the support of 20 MLAs The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, support of whose three MLAs is crucial for the stability of BJP-led dispensation in Goa, Tuesday said a "conspiracy" was being hatched by "our rivals" that might force it to move out and align with the Congress to form a new government. The party has three lawmakers in the 40-Member Goa Assembly and its senior leader and Marcaim legislator Sudin Dhavalikar is the deputy chief minister in the Pramod Sawant government. Speaking to PTI, MGP president Dipak Dhavalikar alleged one of his party's officer-bearers was "made to issue a letter" to the governor and speaker declaring authority over entire legislative affairs of the outfit. Mr Dhavalikar said the MGP central committee would meet Wednesday to chalk out its future course of action, which, he claimed, can decide the fate of the state government. "There is a larger conspiracy under which one of our senior officer bearers, general secretary Lavoo Mamlatdar, was made to issue a letter to the governor and speaker, in which he stated that he was taking over the entire authority on legislative affairs of the party," Mr Dhavalikar said. He said his party was the state's oldest regional outfit but some sections were opposed to its growth. Mr Mamlatdar had last week written a letter to the governor and Assembly speaker stating he was the sole authority in the MGP to communicate party decisions to them. After the letter, MGP had expelled Mr Mamlatdar. Talking about Wednesday's party meeting to discuss this issue, Mr Dhavalikar said, "We might take certain resolutions in the central committee meeting which can have bearing on the stability of the government led by Pramod Sawant." He alleged moves were afoot by his rivals to wean away MGP lawmakers Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar, and in the process isolate Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar. "Any attempt to disturb our MLAs will be viewed seriously and we won't mind pulling out of the government," he said. On being queried about whether the option of the aligning with the opposition Congress was open to the MGP, Mr Dhavalikar replied in the affirmative. After the death of Manohar Parrikar, BJP's Pramod Sawant took over as Chief Minister. He heads a coalition government comprising the MGP, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three Independent MLAs. Mr Sawant faced a vote of confidence during which his government garnered the support of 20 MLAs: 11 from the BJP, three each from MGP and GFP, three independents. Fifteen MLAs -- 14 from congress and one from NCP -- voted against his government. The support of three MGP MLAs is crucial as without them the strength of the coalition government will reduce to 17 in the house. The magic figure in the 40-member assembly, the strength of which has been reduced to 36 following resignations of two MLAs and demise of two including Parrikar, is 18 as of now.<doc-sep>It’s been a few hours since being sworn in as chief minister. Can you list out your immediate priorities? As the man who is heading a coalition government in the state, how will you manage the pulls and pressures from the allies? The state has been grappling with the mining crisis for a while. You know the problems better than anyone else since you also hail from the mining belt. How do you plan to address this issue, and do you have solutions on hand? What is the roadmap you have envisioned for Goa’s developmental path? Parrikar was on the verge of completing the casino policy which would have got rid of the casinos from the river Mandovi. Will you finalise the policy? Goa has been plagued with unemployment for a while. How soon will you address this concern? Any thoughts on making Goa garbage free? The earlier cabinet planned to make Goa garbage-free by 2020 and took an approach to waste management…<doc-sep>This is how Congress lost the Goa game again NEW DELHI: Congress’ numerical edge in terms of number of MLAs in the Goa assembly was blunted as only three of its MLAs appeared before Goa governor Mridula Sinha while BJP presented all 21 MLAs supporting its claim, minister for roads and highways Nitin Gadkari has said.The minister, who was despatched by BJP chief Amit Shah after the demise of Manohar Parrikar , had a role in working out equations for the second time in the coastal state. He was the man behind the scenes when BJP came from behind to pip Congress to form a government in 2017 despite lesser MLAs.“Our strength has reduced to 12 and Congress is down at 14. It was natural that we needed support of other parties and independents. The distribution of departments has also been finalised and I am confident this government will carry forward the good work,” Gadkari told TOI.The situation was resolved after protracted discussions between BJP leaders and smaller parties whose bargaining power had increased in the midst of the political flux. If even one of the regional parties had shifted loyalties, government formation would have become very difficult given the available options.“Congress has 14 MLAs, but could take only three to the Governor. We produced names of all MLAs supporting us to show our majority. We will pass the floor test on Wednesday as well. There is no room for any interference in this process,” Gadkari said.The negotiations first had to get around Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party’s argument that its leader Sudin Dhavalikar is the seniormost MLA and should be considered for the CM’s post. The issue consumed a few hours before BJP persuaded the ally that its nominee be accepted.There were protracted negotiations that saw some would-be ministers threaten to head off to their homes. The portfolio-sharing was finally worked out well past midnight on Monday. “It was natural on their part to bargain as we needed their support. I have had a 30-year association with local leaders and that helped me. Now there is unanimity and the government will be stable,” said Gadkari.BJP zeroed in on Goa speaker Pramod Sawant after briefly considering Sripad Naik, junior minister for Ayurveda at the Centre. The feedback from all 12 BJP MLAs favoured Sawant while allies and independents supporting the government also felt that the choice should be from among the MLAs.<doc-sep>
Soon after being dropped from the cabinet, Dhavalikar said that 'splitting MGP at midnight is the biggest dacoity done by Chowkidars'. (Photo: ANI) Panaji: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar was dropped from the Goa cabinet on Wednesday, about a week after being sworn-in to the post. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recommended the sacking of Dhavalikar from the cabinet, which was accepted by Governor Mridula Sinha. Soon after being dropped from the cabinet, Dhavalikar said that “splitting MGP at midnight is the biggest dacoity done by Chowkidars”. “I will not respond to any questions, but what I have in my mind I will speak. Today I am free. MGP is a party of the people. At night, the chowkidars have committed dacoity on MGP which has shocked the people of Goa. People of Goa are watching this and they will decide on the course of action,” he said. Earlier in a late night dramatic development, two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) merged their party's legislative wing with the BJP, said Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The support of the MGP was crucial for the stability of BJP-led dispensation in Goa. The merger of the two-member legislative unit into the BJP brings the saffron party on par with the Congress with 14 seats each. The MGP is an alliance partner of the BJP in Goa since 2012. On March 19, Sawant was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa in a late-night ceremony along with an 11- member cabinet.