Two Goa BJP MLAs hope Manohar Parrikar will be PM

PANAJI: Goa Legislative Assembly today passed a resolution congratulating former chief minister Manohar Parrikar who was elevated as defence minister last year, even as two BJP MLAs hoped the BJP stalwart will become prime minister in future.

"We should not be surprised if we see Parrikar as prime minister of the country in future. We wish that he should be the PM," State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said while addressing the Legislative Assembly session on its first day.

He was among several MLAs who congratulated Parrikar for being inducted into Union cabinet and given defence portfolio.

A motion congratulating Parrikar's ascension was moved by BJP legislator Subhash Faldesai, which was passed unanimously.

Another BJP MLA Michael Lobo too echoed Parulekar, saying Parrikar may become prime minister one day.

"If there are minority community representatives in Legislative Assembly then we should credit it to Parrikar. He is the second chief minister after former CM Dayanand Bandodkar who has struggled for Goa and Goans," he said.

Lobo, who heads North Goa unit of the party, said, "Today, we are in majority in the House in coalition that is only because of him...Some day, he may become prime minister."

In his address, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar called Parrikar a "visionary" and credited the current development of the coastal state to him.

"There are very few leaders in Goa who are of his stature," Parsekar said recalling his association with Parrikar, which dates back to their school days.

There was a murmur of declaring Parrikar as BJP's prime ministerial candidate instead of Narendra Modi ahead of Lok Sabha elections last year.