BJP MLA Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Goa just before 2 am on Tuesday, capping a day of hectic parleys between the saffron party and its allies to put a new government in place in the state.

After multiple postponements of the oath ceremony on Monday, the day when his predecessor Manohar Parrikar was cremated with State honours, Sawant was sworn in by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha at Raj Bhavan at 1.50 am. Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 46-year-old legislator from Sankhalim in North Goa. The Governor also administered oath to 11 other ministers, including those from BJP’s allies MGP and the GFP.

Interestingly, all the ministers who were part of erstwhile Manohar Parrikar-led Cabinet were sworn in by the Governor. MGP’s two MLAs Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Ajgaonkar were sworn-in, while Goa Forward party MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Palekar and Jayesh Salgaonkar also took oath. BJP MLAs Mauvin Godinho, Vishwajit Rane, Milind Naik and Nilesh Cabral also found a place in the Sawant-led Cabinet. As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from two small parties backing the BJP in the coastal state will be made deputy chief minister, party sources said.

They are Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar. Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, the party’s Goa in-charge, was present at the oath-taking ceremony. The new government was sworn-in with the support of 20 MLAs, including 11 from the BJP and three each from GFP, MGP and Independents.

Before taking oath as the CM, Sawant resigned from the post of Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly. Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo would be officiating as Speaker till election for the post was held.

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