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Goa Polls 2017: I have not resigned yet, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

Both the Congress and the BJP are expected to woo the regional forces to get the required numbers to form the government in the tourist state where the majority mark is 21

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Saurabh Kumar
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Goa Polls 2017: I have not resigned yet, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

Goa Poll results 2017: Hung Assembly in Goa; Congress, BJP now at mercy of MGP, Goa Forward

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar could again become the coastal state's CM as Goa BJP passed a resolution to make him the CM face after getting support of two regional parties.

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Denying reports, Manohar Parrikar said that he has not resigned yet from Defence Minister position as he leaves Governor House in Goa.

With Goa polls throwing up a fractured verdict, both the BJP and the Congress legislature parties are meeting on Sunday to decide their respective leaders and work out strategies to form government in the state.

“The BJP legislature party will meet in the afternoon. We will explore the possibility of forming the next government,” party’s state general secretary Sadanand Tanawade told PTI on Sunday.

Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to attend the meeting, sources said.

The Congress Legislature Party will also meet on Sunday.

Following the meeting, the party is expected to stake claim to form government as it has the won the maximum 17 seats in the state Assembly elections, All India Congress Committee Secretary Girish Chodankar said.

In the 40-member House, the BJP bagged 13 seats. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the independents won three seats each, while the NCP bagged one.

The stand of regional parties the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is likely to play a decisive role in the formation of the next government. Three of the BJP’s newly elected MLAs on Sunday rooted for Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to take the lead to form government in Goa, if the smaller parties back it.

Here are the updates:

# I have not resigned yet, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

 

 

“The people want Parrikar to come back to Goa. Now it will depend on the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. If they support us, we will form the government in the state,” BJP legislator Michael Lobo, who got elected from Calangute constituency, told reporters outside the party headquarters.

In the last polls, the BJP had won 21 seats and the Congress nine. The GFP, which has not revealed its strategy so far, will also be meeting today to discuss the situation, its spokesman Durgadas Kamat said.

Both the Congress and the BJP are expected to woo the regional forces to get the required numbers to form the government in the tourist state where the majority mark is 21.

Independent candidate Rohan Khaunte, backed by the Congress, won in Porvorim seat taking the party’s tally to 18.

The party is now short of three legislators to stake claim to rule the state. The BJP’s tally stands at 14 as Independent candidate Govind Gawade, supported by the party, won in Priol seat.

The party needs support of seven more MLAs to retain power in the coastal state. The NCP’s lone legislator Churchill Alemao is expected to go with the Congress, party sources said. 

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh  said that his party was in touch with non-BJP MLAs, and was confident we have number on our side/

He lashed out on BJP as he questioned party's morals. They've been defeated & doing horse-trading, promising ministries like distributing sweets, said Digvijay Singh.

Goa Goa Election Results