PANAJI: Manohar Parrikar, who quit as Defence Minister, was today sworn in as chief minister of Goa to head a coalition Government of local allies and Independents, three days after the BJP ended up second behind the Congress in a fractured mandate.
Earlier in the day, the Congress suffered a setback in the Supreme Court which refused to stay 61-year-old Parrikar’s swearing-in ceremony as sought by the party.
According to the directions of the apex court, Parrikar, who claimed to have support of 21 MLAs including 13 of the BJP, will have to prove majority on the floor of the assembly on March 16.
The decks for his swearing-in were cleared after a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar refused to grant the stay on the Congress’ plea and ordered a floor test.
The bench directed that the assembly session be called at 11 AM on March 16 exclusively for holding of the floor test after swearing-in of the members. (AGENCIES)
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