BJP's Pramod Sawant is the new Goa CM, takes oath at 2 AM

Panaji : Bharatiya Janata Party's Pramod Sawant is the new Goa Chief Minister. He has replaced late Manohar Parrikar who took his last breath on Sunday evening.

After a swift chain of events to decide the name of new Goa Chief Minister, the oath ceremony was held at 2 AM. The tough negotiations with BJP allies, which continued overnight, were resolved after party chief Amit Shah stepped in and two lawmakers of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) joined the BJP.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pramod Sawant said, "I will not be able to work as much as Manohar Parrikar ji but I will definitely try to work as much as possible."

The switch by two MGP lawmakers has pushed BJP's majority to 20 in the 36-member assembly. The Congress has 15 members, four short of the majority mark. Four seats are vacant after the death of two BJP members (including Manohar Parrikar) and the resignation of two Congress lawmakers.