Goa chief minister confident of winning floor test

PANAJI: Pramod Sawant, the newly sworn-in Goa chief minister, is confident of winning both the upcoming bypolls and Lok Sabha elections, but his first political test will be on Wednesday when the BJP takes the trust vote to prove its majority.

It’s not just the aggressive allies who will test Sawant’s political mettle, but there are rumblings in his own party. For instance, Michael Lobo, the BJP MLA and incumbent deputy speaker who is touted to be the next speaker, says he is not too keen to take up the new job, if offered. Speaking to ET on the criteria followed by the BJP leadership in choosing the men at helm, he said: “The leadership only favours men who are from the RSS to lead the state. That has been the criteria not just in Goa but also in other states.” “I have been a two time MLA and have over 15 years of experience. A speaker’s job doesn’t allow you to raise concerns,” he added. Of the 12 MLAs, seven belong to the minority community.

Sawant told ET, “In a coalition government, the majority partner is the ruling partner. In this case, the BJP is the majority partner. We have met all their terms and conditions and will deliver a stable government for the next three years by taking all into confidence, we will run the government”.


HOW THE DRAMA PLAYED OUT

At 1.48 am, a minute after the national anthem was played at the Raj Bhavan, Sawant took oath as chief minister of Goa. The 45-year-old MLA from Sanquelim constituency took charge, hours after the final rites of his predecessor, the late Manohar Parrikar, were conducted with full state honours.

A two-time MLA who started as a karyakarta, Sawant steadily rose in rank and profile. While he has no political lineage, he is considered to have the backing of the RSS.

However, a lot of drama was witnessed before the swearing-in with the allies –– Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three independents –– refusing to extend support during the initial negotiations. The BJP at 12 seats, were eight shy of forming the government. While the GFP extended its support by noon with Sardesai being offered the deputy chief minister’s post, it was the MGP that kept the BJP guessing.