From an RSS pracharak to India's defence minister, Manohar Parrikar was the man who changed Goan politics where he served as the chief minister four times.

With over two decades of political experience, Parrikar was Bharatiya Janata Party's crisis man in Goa.

In 2017, Manohar Parrikar moved back to Goa from Delhi to return as chief minister of India's smallest state to hold together the ruling coalition after they refused to accept anyone else as its leader.

The technocrat-turned-politician, Manohar Parrikar, played a key role in making the BJP a force to reckon with in Goa, which remained a Congress bastion for long.

Born on December 13, 1955 into a middle class family, Parrikar's political career began as an RSS pracharak and he continued working for the Sangh after graduating from IIT-Bombay.

His plunge into BJP politics was considered as an attempt by the party to curb the growth of the state's oldest regional political party Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

Parrikar entered electoral politics in 1994 when he won on a BJP ticket from Panaji constituency.

He was leader of the Opposition from June to November 1999 and was known for his speeches against the then Congress-led government.

In a state known for political swings as well as rise and fall of ministries, Parrikar's first stint as chief minister was from 24 October 2000 to 27 February 2002.

On June 5, 2002, he was re-elected and served another term as chief minister. On January 29, 2005, his government was reduced to a minority in the assembly after four BJP MLAs resigned from the House.

In 2007, the Parrikar-led BJP was defeated by the Congress.

2012 , however, was a different year for the BJP as Parrikar took his party to the historic number of 21 out of 40 seats in the assembly.

He went on to become the chief minister again.

After the Narendra Modi-led Cabinet was sworn at the Centre, Parrikar was offered a ministerial berth in November 2014. He remained in the Union cabinet till 2017.

It was in February, 2018 that Manohar Parrikar's health started deteriorating. He was flown to the US in March last year fpor treatment where he was admitted till June.

Parrikar returned to attend the monsoon session of the Assembly from July 19 to August 3, and left for the USA on August 10 for the second round of checkup. He returned to Goa on August 22, 2018.

Parrikar was shifted to the AIIMS New Delhi on September 15 last year. Manohar Parrikar had to be shifted again to New Delhi last year for treatment. He returned to Goa on October 14.

With a tube in his nose, a frail-looking Parrikar attended the budget session and also presented the state budget. "There is a josh that is too high, very high and I am in hosh. Fully in hosh," Parrikar had said.

A fighter, Parrikar's decision to go for a ride and inspect two upcoming bridges in the state with a feeder tube protruding from one nostril became a defining image.

Death of Manohar Parrikar, who served the state of Goa, till his last breath, has created a political vacuum. Goa is now under strain with the BJP unable to reach a consensus with its coalition partners.

(with agency inputs)

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