The legislative wing of the Goa BJP picked Goa Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’souza as the party’s leader in the House on Monday, 19 February.
The decision was taken as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is still undergoing treatment at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai and the Budget session starts in the Assembly.
According to reports, the session has been shortened to just three days and the state Budget will be presented on Tuesday, 20 February.
Parrikar is being treated since 15 February in Mumbai for “mild pancreatitis”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Mumbai on Sunday for the Magnetic Maharashtra Summit, visited Parrikar at the hospital along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Lilavati Hospital authorities had on Sunday rubbished rumours around Parrikar’s health.
“It has been brought to our notice (that) various malicious and misleading reports/rumours are floating around in the electronic/print media with regards to his health. We categorically deny all such rumours. We reiterate that Hon. Chief Minister of Goa is being treated and is responding well to the treatment,” a hospital statement read.
Parrikar was admitted to state-run Goa Medical College (GMC) in the night of 14 February after he complained of stomach pain.
“CM Shri Manohar Parrikar is under monitoring for his inflamed pancreas at Lilavati, Mumbai and has not been advised any surgery. Hon’ble CM will be attending the state assembly session which is scheduled to begin from 19th February 2018,” the Goa CMO had said on Friday.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Sunil Desai reportedly filed a complaint with police against rumour mongers spreading false news about the health of the CM by quoting him.