The BJP-led government has won the trust vote in Goa assembly on Wednesday. Overseen by the speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo, Pramod Sawant won the support of 20 lawmakers who voted in his favour.
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A special session was convened for the floor-test for the two-day old BJP government. Pramod Sawant had resigned from the post of assembly speaker to swear in as the chief minister after the passing of Manohar Parrikar.
The government had claimed majority of 21 MLAs—12 from the BJP, three each of allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents. The Congress, which is the single largest party with 14 MLAs, had also staked claim to form the government. There is also an NCP legislator in the House.
The strength of the 40-member House has been reduced to 36 due to the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar, BJP MLA Francis D'Souza and resignations of two Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte.
The Congress is the single largest party in the state with 14 MLAs. There is also an NCP legislator in the House.
Sawant, 45, was sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa just before 2 am Tuesday, after hectic parleys between the saffron party and its allies to put a new government in place in the state.
As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from the two smaller parties backing the BJP will be made deputy chief minister, party sources said. They are GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar.
(With PTI inputs)
