Manohar Parrikar to become Goa Chief Minister

The BJP is hoping to sail across the majority mark with support from the smaller parties and independents.

The Goa Forward Party (GFP), however, has said it is yet to hand over any letter of support to the BJP or the Congress. "We are staking claim to form the government... we have support of more than 21 legislators which is required to form the government," BJP state unit chief Vinay Tendulkar said.

The newly elected BJP MLAs, who met on Sunday to explore the possibility of forming government in Goa, earlier passed a resolution urging party chief Amit Shah to nominate Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as leader of the legislature party. 

The BJP's efforts to cobble up a majority to form the government in Goa got a boost as the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) said it would extend support to the saffron party if Parrikar is appointed as the chief minister.

Tendulkar said the letters of support are expected from other parties, including the Goa Forward Party (GFP). "The MGP has already announced its support to us. We will get letter of support from GFP," he claimed.

He further claimed that the government would be formed in alliance with the MGP, the GFP and the independents.