Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manohar Parrikar was on Tuesday sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa. He was administered the oath of office by Governor Mridula Sinha.
Parrikar, who resigned as the defence minister, had on Monday staked claim to form the government after the assembly elections threw up a split verdict.
Nine ministers were also sworn in during the ceremony, namely Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Azgaonkar of the Maharashtrawdi Gomantak Party, Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Palienkar and Jayesh Salgaonkar of the Goa Forward, Francis D'Souza, Pandurang Madkaikar of the BJP and Independent legislators Govind Gawde and Rohan Khaunte.
Top BJP leaders including BJP national president Amit Shah, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, J.P. Nadda and several other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
Earlier in the morning, the Supreme Court refused to stay the swearing-in, but asked the former defence minister to prove his majority through a trust vote on Thursday. The court decision came on a petition filed by the Congress, which had challenged the Governor's decision to invite the BJP to form the government.
In the recently held elections to the 40 member assembly, Congress bagged 17 seats while BJP won 13. The saffron party, however, managed to secure the support of small regional parties.
