As the Goa Assembly elections delivered a fractured verdict, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress legislature parties held meetings on Sunday to decide their respective leaders to form government in the state.
BJP top leaders Nitin Gadkari and Manohar Parrikar are currently holding talks at a five-star hotel in Goa. The BJP, in need of seven seats to form the government, has sought an appointment with the state Governor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
“We are waiting for the final two letters. We are meeting the Governor today,” the BJP said.
“We are waiting for the prime minister to give us time by evening. We are taking all the MLAs with us to meet him. We are looking at an appointment for around 8 pm," the party stated.
The BJP Parliamentary board meeting on Sunday at 6 pm is likely to decide if Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is to take over as the state Chief Minister. If Parrikar is to become the Chief Minister, he will have to resign as the Defence Minister of the country.
Meanwhile, the meeting of Congress MLAs headed by party leader Digvijaya Singh was underway in Panaji.
The BJP won 14 seats in the 40-member Goa assembly while the Congress won 18 seats, closest to majority. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the independents secured three seats each, while the NCP managed to win one.