Panaji, Nov 25 (IANS): Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar Tuesday accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as legislator.
Parrikar, a former Goa chief minister, who was recently elevated as defence minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi cabinet, had Monday resigned as legislator of Panaji, a constituency he represented five times in a row since 1994.
An official attached to the Goa speaker's office said that the resignation was a mere formality as Parrikar had already been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.
"The resignation has been accepted by the speaker today. We will in turn inform the Election Commission of India about the vacancy so that byelections can be held in Panaji constituency," the official said.