Pramod Sawant Declared Goa CM, BJP MLAs Arrive at Raj Bhawan to Stake Claim to Form Govt

Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai said 25 of 40 MLAs in Goa — 20 of the BJP, 2 from MGP and three Independents — are supporting CM-designate Pramod Sawant.

Goa CM-designate Pramod Sawant and other BJP leaders along with MGP MLAs met Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai to stake claim to form government in the state.

Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav said today that neither did he think that he would be invited nor was he interested in going, when asked about the swearing-in ceremony of Uttar Pradesh chief minister-designate Yogi Adityanath. Yadav also said he had only one suggestion for the government, and that was it should “stop lying”. “Neither I think I will be called nor I am interested to go to the swearing-in ceremony of UP CM-designate Yogi Adityanath on March 25th. My only suggestion to the government is that they shouldn’t lie to the people of Uttar Pradesh anymore,” he added. ANI

Goa chief minister-designate Pramod Sawant said he will be meeting governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at 7 pm today, where the decision about the swearing-in ceremony will also be made. Sawant also said he will be taking forward “PM Modi’s vision” in Goa. “I will work for infrastructure and human development in the state. PM [Narendra] Modi’s vision will be taken forward in Goa,” he said, adding, “we will be meeting the Goa governor PS Sreedharan Pillai around 7 pm today, where decision about the swearing-in ceremony will be taken.” ANI

The BJP named Pushkar Singh Dhami as the chief minister of Uttarakhand on Monday, after the party retained power for the second consecutive term in the hill state. Even though Dhami, 46, lost the February election from Khatima, which he had won in previous assembly elections, the party seems to have given him a second chance banking on the length and breadth of his work as the CM, after he took the baton from Trivendra Singh Rawat last year. Dhami, a Thakur leader, was sworn in as the chief minister last July. As a former president of the BJP youth wing, Dhami enjoys cordial relations with the young cadres. The party believes Dhami helped in checking anti-incumbency to a certain extent. READ MORE

The incumbent chief minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, is all set to take oath as the CM again. The reason behind the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision, according to sources, is that Sawant helped the party win 20 of the 40 seats in the Goa assembly elections, more than what it had won five years ago. Sawant took over as the chief minister of Goa after BJP leader Manohar Parrikar died in 2019. Sources said that Sawant’s name for the top post was ratified by Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s election in-charge in Goa. The caretaker CM was recently in Delhi to meet BJP president J P Nadda. Sawant had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on March 8, ahead of poll results. READ MORE

The BJP chose Pramod Sawant as the next chief minister of Goa. The BJP announced him as the leader of the legislative party for the next five years. Central observer to Goa, Narendra Singh Tomar said party leader Vishwajit Rane proposed Sawant’s name as the leader of the legislative party. “Everyone unanimously elected Sawant. He will be the leader of the legislative party for the next five years,” Tomar said. According to news agency ANI, after the announcement, Sawant told media, “First of all, I would like to thank PM (Narendra) Modi, (JP) Nadda ji and Amit Shah ji… I would also like to thank all my party members, supporters and people of the state of Goa. We will work for zero corruption. We will meet the governor soon.”

Uttarakhand chief minister-designate Pushkar Singh Dhami, central observer Narendra Singh Tomar and other BJP leaders today met governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) to stake claim to form the government in the state.

(Uttarakhand CM-designate Pushkar Singh Dhami and Narendra Singh Tomar meet governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh. Image: News18)

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has kept the home department with himself, while prominent AAP leader and second-time MLA Harpal Singh Cheema from Dirba was appointed the state’s finance minister. Another second-time MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Barnala was appointed the education minister, while Dr Vijay Singla got the health portfolio. The youngest in the cabinet at 31 years of age, Harjot Singh Bains from Anandpur Sahib was appointed as the law and tourism minister.

The other doctor in the cabinet and lone woman, Baljit Kaur, will be the minister of social security as well as women and child development. Former state civil servant Harbhajan Singh ‘ETO’ will be the power minister, while long-time AAP loyalist and SC cell head Lal Chand Kataruchak has got the portfolio of food and supply. Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal will be the minister of rural development and panchayati raj.

Laljit Singh Bhullar has been appointed as transport minister, while Brahm Shankar ‘Jimpa’ has got portfolios of water and disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh caretaker chief minister Yogi Adityanath were among those who showered praise on Manipur chief minister Biren Singh as congratulations poured in. Biren Singh took oath as the CM for the second term. Modi said, “I am confident his team and he would take Manipur to newer heights of progress and continue the good work done in the last five years”.

In Punjab, seven of 11 newly sworn-in ministers have declared criminal cases as per their election affidavits. Of them, four are facing serious charges, said poll rights group Association for Democratic Reforms. PTI

Congratulating N Biren Singh for becoming chief minister for a second term, BJP national president JP Nadda said Manipur will witness a “new dawn of development”. Nadda also congratulated other elected members of the newly formed cabinet. He tweeted: “Heartiest congratulations to @NBirenSingh Ji on being swore in as the CM of Manipur and to all the members of the newly elected cabinet. Under the leadership and guidance of PM @narendramodi, Manipur will soar to new heights & prosperity, giving rise to a new dawn of development.”

Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan was unanimously elected as the speaker of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann proposed Sandhwan’s name, which was seconded by cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema, said the chief minister’s office. Sandhwan, 46, is the grandnephew of former president Giani Zail Singh. He joined the AAP in 2012.

After N Biren Singh took oath as the chief minister for the second term, he said his government’s first task will be to make Manipur “corruption-free”. “I would like to appreciate my colleagues for their support, also want to thank the people, PM, Nadda ji, Amit Shah ji and Rajnath ji… my government’s first task will be corruption-free state,” he told the media. He said he will “work day and night to wash out corruption” and tackle drug-related matters after that. Biren Singh also said he will try to resolve the issue of insurgency through negotiations and dialogue. “I will try to see that all the insurgents operating in the state are brought to the negotiating table and there are dialogues. These three will be my primary duties,” Biren Singh added. ANI

Alongside chief minister N Biren Singh, five MLAs, including Nemcha Kipgen, Y Khemchand Singh, Th Biswajit Singh, Awangbou Newmai and Govindas Konthoujam were also sworn in as the cabinet ministers of Manipur at the state capital Imphal today. ANI

Central observers Rajnath Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi arrived in Dehradun today to attend the BJP legislature party meeting at 4.30 pm to decide on the government formation in Uttarakhand.

The long-drawn suspense over Goa chief minister’s name is likely to end today as the BJP will announce the leader of the state BJP Legislature Party at a meeting to be held at BJP headquarters in Panaji at around 4 pm. The BJP has also sought an appointment with Goa Governor at 6 pm to stake a claim to form the government, sources said. At the BJP legislative meet, the BJP will finalise the CM’s name. Among the front-runners is caretaker CM Pramod Sawant, former state health minister Vishwajeet Rane and Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who will visit Goa today. READ MORE