PANAJI
Even outgoing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is unaware when a new cabinet would be sworn-in in the state, two days after the Bharatiya Janata Party carved out a spectacular victory against odds in the February 14 polls.
Sawant, who resigned as the Chief Minister and was appointed as a caretaker CM by Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at a formal ceremony at Raj Bhavan on Saturday, also said that he was unaware when the BJP would send its senior observer to oversee the process of finalisation of the party's chief ministerial face for the coming five year term.
Meanwhile, in an interesting development, Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane called on the governor giving rise to political speculations.
The Valpoi MLA, however, downplayed his visit saying it was just a courtesy call. “It was just a personal courtesy visit, nothing political,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Pillai thanked Sawant for his co-operation with the Raj Bhavan during both their respective tenures as CM and Governor.
"Until an alternative arrangement is made and the due processes are through, I as the Governor appoint him as caretaker chief minister," Pillai told reporters at Raj Bhavan, as handed Sawant the formal order in the presence of BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Sawant said that the central unit of the BJP was co-ordinating with leaders of other four states, where the party won a victory in the recently conducted assembly polls, to finalise a date for the swearing-in.
"Swearing-in is scheduled in four states. A decision has not been made regarding that at the Centre yet. After the decision is taken at the Centre, dates for all states will be finalised and the swearing in will take place in all four states," Sawant told reporters.
The newly appointed caretaker CM also said that he was unaware as to when the BJP's highest decision-making body, the central parliamentary board, would be in a position to arrive in Goa to conduct a meeting of the party's legislature unit, which would finalise the chief ministerial face of the party.
"We do not know who is going to come or when. When the central party takes a decision, we will inform you. The observer will conduct a meeting of the legislature party and quickly take the rest of the decisions," said Sawant, who is tipped to continue as the leader of the new government.
The BJP won 20 seats, just one short of the majority mark of 21, but has received letters of unconditional support from three independent MLAs and the two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislature party, which could potentially take the strength of the treasury benches to 25 in the 40-member state legislative assembly.
