Manohar Parrikar, four-time Goa chief minister no more

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away this evening after a long battle with cancer. Parrikar had been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, and New York since February last year after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After coming back from New York, Parrikar, was seen wearing medical paraphernalia -a nasogastric tube.

Parrikar led a coalition government, which is backed by the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and three independent lawmakers in Goa.

With the demise of chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the BJP-led coalition in Goa has to search for a new leader to replace him. The death of the former defence minister, who represented the Panaji assembly seat, will also necessitate a fourth bypoll in Goa, where by-elections are scheduled for the Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa assembly constituencies on April 23. These will held in the state along with the Lok Sabha polls.


According to ANI, centre has announced national mourning on March 18, following demise of Goa CM. State funeral will be accorded to him. National Flag will fly at half-mast in the National Capital & capitals of States & UTs.


Earlier in the day, BJP had asked Goa BJP MLAs to not leave the state amid reports that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's health was deteriorating. BJP's diktat came after Goa Congress unit wrote to Governor Mridula Sinha to stake a claim and form a new government.



Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has also expressed grief on twitter


Priyanka Gandhi has also expressed condolences in a tweet


"Saddened at the passing away of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar ji. He patiently endured his illness. Condolences to his family and his admirers," Banerjee said in a tweet.


According to news agency ANI, Condolence meet for Manohar Parrikar is scheduled to be held in the union cabinet at 11 am tomorrow.