Eleven days after Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) won 20 seats in the 40-member house and secured the support of two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and three independent MLA, the party on Sunday announced that it will hold the much-awaited legislature party meeting and call on the governor to stake a claim to form the government on Monday.
BJP state president Sadanand Tanavade on Sunday said the two central observers -- Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and L Murugan - will arrive in Goa on Monday to oversee the process and the first legislature party meeting will be held at 4 pm in the presence of Goa Election in charge Devendra Fadnavis and Desk in charge CT Ravi.
After selecting the leader of the House, who will be the next chief minister, BJP leaders will meet state governor P S Sreedharan Pillai at 6 PM to stake a claim to form the government
He said the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Goa will tentatively take place between March 23 and 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders will remain present for the event.
BJP leader and caretaker chief minister Pramod Sawant is the frontrunner for the post of the CM but faces some tough opposition from Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane, who is also eyeing the top post.
BJP sources said the name of the next CM will be announced by 5 PM.
In the recently-held elections in Goa, the BJP won 20 seats, just one short of a simple majority, in the 40-member House. BJP's nearest rival Congress won 11 seats, AAP 2, Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP) 2, Independents 3, Revolutionary Goans 1, and Goa Forward Party 1.