Panaji: Manohar Parrikar Sworn in as Chief Minister

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 9: BJP leader Manohar Parrikar on Friday March 9 took oath as the chief minister of Goa, beginning his third stint as the head of the coastal state.

Four other BJP legislators -- Dayanand Mandrekar, Laxmikant Parsekar, Matanhy Saldana along with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's Ramakrishna Dhavalikar also took oath.

For the first time in the history of Goa, the oath taking ceremony was held in an open ground as against the usual practise of having it at Raj Bhavan.

Goa Governor K Sankarnarayanan gave oath of secrecy to all the six ministers.

BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, BJP's senior leaders L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Venkaiah Naidu and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were also present for the ceremony.

BJP-led alliance with the support of 26 legislators had staked claim to form the government on March 6, soon after it won the majority seats.

MGP's three legislators and two independents have also extended their support to BJP.

Congress has been reduced to just nine seats after the party faced worst ever poll debacle.