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Updated: Apr 23, 2020 15:33 IST

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s demise has sparked a political frenzy in the state with BJP calling its MLAs and ministers together at a city based hotel while the Congress has once again petitioned the governor to invite them to form the government in the state.

While condoling the death of Manohar Parrikar, the Congress wrote to the Governor saying that the “unfortunate development calls for the immediate action on your part for smooth transition and transfer of power.”

“The coalition partners had allied with BJP on condition that the government is headed by Manohar Parrikar who was the then Defence Minister of India. The BJP has no allies as of now,” said the letter, Congress’ second in 48 hours.

“The Congress being the single largest party the leader of the Congress Legislature Party is entitled to be invited to form the best government,” said the letter signed by leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and Goa State President Girish Chodankar.

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Both the Congress and the BJP called emergency meetings of their MLAs with the respective central observers chairing the meetings.

Crucially, Digambar Kamat who’s departure to Delhi earlier on Sunday sparked speculation that he was being offered the Chief Minister’s post if he defected to be BJP remained with the Congress camp.

Earlier in the day the Congress accused the governor of acting like a BJP office bearer pointing to the fact that the Governor has refused them an audience but has had the time to meet BJP office bearers.

The BJP too called a meeting of its legislators at a city hotel while alliance partners and independents met separately at the residence of Goa Forward Leader Vijai Sardesai.

Questions over who will succeed Parrikar remain. The BJP would like one of its MLAs to be made CM while the alliance partners are yet to make their stands known in light of today’s developments.