No immediate plan to fill vacancy caused by Francisco Micky Pacheco: Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar

PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said he has no immediate plans to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rural Development Minister Francisco Micky Pacheco, even as intense lobbying was on within the ruling coalition for the vacant berth.

Pacheco, an MLA of Goa Vikas Party, resigned from the post on Friday after his conviction for assaulting a government servant was upheld by the Supreme Court. He was convicted by the High court for slapping a government servant.

Goa cabinet has a strength of 12 members. "The strength of the cabinet cannot cross 12 members. Nobody can question me if I run the cabinet even with five members. Right now we have 11 members and it is within the permissible numbers," Parsekar, told PTI today.

He further added, "As of now I am not filling the post." Sources in the government said intense lobbying is going on within the ruling coalition for the vacant berth.

Pacheco was a member of coalition partner Goa Vikas Party, who was inducted in November last year after former chief minister Manohar Parrikar moved to the Centre as Defence Minister.