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Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar to resign tomorrow, Parsekar likely to succeed him

MAPUSA/PANAJI: A strong rebellion has hit the ruling BJP over the selection of the new chief minister of Goa, with deputy CM Francis D’Souza, who has the backing of several MLAs, saying he would not join the cabinet if not made CM. D’Souza returned from a personal foreign tour on Friday.Soon after, four-time MP and present Union minister of state for tourism and culture, Shripad Naik, also threw in his hat into the ring, as soon as he returned to Delhi from London after attending the World Trade Mart (WTM) meet there, sources said.The BJP is understood to have told both that nothing can be changed. Former state unit president and health minister Laxmikant Parsekar appears to have an edge over Goa legislative assembly speaker Rajendra Arlekar. They were the only ones considered for the top post.Late on Friday night, sources said the new chief minister will be sworn in at Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula, at 4pm on Saturday. The entire cabinet is expected to be inducted, barring one position vacated by Parrikar. “The name of the CM has been finalized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah,” a party source said.The day witnessed hectic lobbying by some MLAs fin support of D’Souza. “I have 10 MLAs and six cabinet ministers with me, I am not claiming the top post because I am a minority leader, I am the number two in position, it is natural that I should be elevated to the top post,” D’Souza told TOI at his Mapusa residence where his supporters had gathered.“It’s like chief minister or nothing for me. I will not join the present cabinet if not made the chief minister,” said the four-time Mapusa MLA.And in Delhi, Naik is said to have sought an appointment with BJP president Amit Shah to make his representation. Shah is returning to Delhi on Saturday.Manohar Parrikar is now expected to resign as chief minister on Saturday shortly after the party’s Parliamentary party meeting and then proceed to Delhi to be sworn in as a Union Cabinet minister. He is tipped to become the next Defence Minister and is expected to be nominated as a Rajya Sabha member from Lucknow. Parrikar hopes to resolve the tangle in the state and announce the party’s choice to take over from him. BJP national general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy and former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyyurappa have been chosen as party observers to facilitate the smooth transition. Rudy is already in Goa and has started the exercise of meeting party MLAs to know their choice for the top post. Yeddyurappa will arrive in Goa on Saturday.As the crisis deepened, Parrikar met D’Souza at his official residence late on Friday night to assuage his feelings and work out an amicable solution to the issue. Earlier in the day before D’souza landed in Goa, Parrikar had a one-on-one meeting with Arlekar explaining to him why the party was considering Parsekar for the top job, sources said. While the RSS was strongly backing Arlekar, the BJP stood its ground on the selection of Parsekar until the scenario changed with D’Souza’s demand. During Parrikar’s one-on-one meeting with MLAs in the day, many MLA’s supported D’Souza’s candidature to take over as chief minister over the candidature of Parsekar as a natural progression.D’Souza who cut short his private foreign tour with his family by 10 days, said, “I am 60 now, I am running out of time, I won’t be in politics for long, give me a smooth exit. If a junior is made CM then I feel that I better should stay away from the government.” He added, “I am not lobbying. My MLAs are demanding the post for me. I honestly feel I am eligible for the post. Since I am number two, I can easily become number one.”He concluded saying, “This (Friday) is my last day as deputy chief minister of Goa, tomorrow (Saturday) I will either be CM or nothing. Parrikar had promised me that he will take care of me, he should prove it now. He knows me for 16 years.”Minutes before chief minister Manohar Parrikar took his last cabinet meeting on Friday evening, five BJP MLAs— Kiran Kandolkar (Tivim), Glen Souza Ticlo (Aldona), Michael Lobo (Calangute), Vishnu Surya Wagh (St Andre) and Carlos Almeida (Vasco)—met D’Souza at his residence and extended their support to his candidature for the CM’s post. Sources said D’Souza has the backing of more MLAs “who cannot openly express their support”.Asked if he would fly to Delhi to convince BJP higher-ups of his eligibility, D’Souza said, “Not at this moment.”Sources said D’Souza was aware Parrikar would be going to the Centre, but since the CM had told him he would be asking for time before joining the Union cabinet, D’Souza had continued with his foreign tour.D’Souza left London at about 10am on Thursday, catching two trains, two planes, and a taxi to land at Dabolim airport on Friday afternoon. He was originally scheduled to arrive on November 16.D’Souza feels his vast experience in Goa’s politics, a degree in law, and long stints as minister are his main qualifications for the top job. When pointed out that he does not belong to the RSS, D’Souza shot back, “Is that a qualification? I don’t think that is a qualification.”He added that 99% of “RSS people” were good to him. “Whenever top RSS leaders come to Goa, they call me for their meetings, and even have one-to-one meetings. And though it is not part of political work, I make it a point to visit them,” said D’Souza.Sources said the MLAs in majority are supporting D’Souza for the CM’s post, while Parsekar and Arlekar have RSS backing.