NEW DELHI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday won the vote of confidence as the chief minister of the western state of Goa, two days after he was sworn in to the post.
Some 22 legislators voted for Parrikar in the 40-member Goa assembly though he needed 21 votes to prove majority. "We had 23 legislators with us, all stood by us. 22 lawmakers voted in our favour, the Speaker, who is from our party could, of course, not vote," Parrikar told the media.
In the election results announced last Saturday, the state's main opposition Congress party won the most -- 17 -- but not enough to form the government, with the target being 21 seats. Moreover, it was slow in moving to secure the support of four more legislators that it needed for a majority.
On the other hand, the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata, which won 13 seats, quickly tied up its alliance and staked claim to form the government, following which 61-year-old Parrikar was invited by Governor Mridula Sinha to form the government.
Parrikar was sworn in Tuesday, hours after India's Supreme Court cleared the decks by refusing a plea of the Congress party to stay the same, saying that the BJP has shown the support of 21 out of the 40 newly elected legislators.
The eight lawmakers who have extended their support to the BJP are from regional parties and independent legislators, some of whom have kept a condition that Parrikar would lead the state as the chief minister, according to sources.
Parrikar will have to get elected to Goa assembly within six months. He was the chief minister of Goa till 2014 when after winning the general elections, the BJP inducted him as defense minister.
