PANAJI: As chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s health started deteriorating, BJP began its search for a new chief minister candidate. At its legislator party meeting on Saturday evening, BJP MLAs told party leaders that the chief minister should be from within the legislators. Currently, BJP has 13 MLAs, including Parrikar , in the 40-member House.BJP central leadership is likely to send its emissaries to Goa on Sunday to consult the MLAs to finalise its chief ministerial candidate. They may also hold meetings with the coalition partners—Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Forward Party and three independents.“Nothing will be change till the chief minister is alive,” deputy speaker Michael Lobo told reporters.BJP state organising secretary Satish Dhond met GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and briefed him about the discussions at the BJP legislators meeting.Sardesai told TOI that he had told Dhond “to come with a proposal with an open mind and our mind is also open”."In the post Parrikar scenario everything will have to be looked afresh," Sardesai told Dhond.The rumours about Parrikar’s deteriorating health started doing the round from Saturday morning. In the afternoon, the chief minister’s office clarified that Parrikar’s health is stable.“With respect to some reports in media, it is hereby stated that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's health parameters continues to remain stable,” the chief minister’s office said.As news spread about Parrikar’s health, Dhond rushed to Raj Bhavan and met governor Mridula Sinha to brief her about the chief minister’s condition. A senior BJP functionary told TOI that Dhond conveyed to the governor that in case of any eventuality, BJP will form the government in the state.As the single largest party with 14 MLAs, Congress has already staked claim to form the government.Later in the evening, BJP held an emergency meeting of its MLAs to discuss the political situation in the state.BJP MLAs were of the view that the party should select a chief minister who can take along every section and also carry out development works in the state. In the past one year, the state administration has been paralysed due to Parrikar’s illness.After the meeting, Lobo said doctors have said the chief minister’s health will not recover. “There are no chances of Parrikar’s recovery. If anything unfortunate happens, then the new chief minister will be from BJP,” he said.BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said they have apprised the central leadership in Delhi about the political situation in Goa. “They have been seeking a daily report on chief minister’s condition,” he said.He also said Parrikar would not resign from the chief minister’s post. “For the past one year (since his disease was detected) he has been the chief minister. He will not resign. There is also no proposal to appoint a deputy chief minister,” Tendulkar said.He also reiterated that the alliance partners have given the assurance that they will continue to support Parrikar-led government and they would be with BJP.Tendulkar also said Congress’s claim to form government was hogwash. “When they had 17 MLAs, Congress could not form the government. Now, with 14 they are staking claim. It is not possible,” he said.