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IIT graduate is Goa chief minister

Bharatiya Janata Party's first chief minister in Goa, Manohar Parrikar, is also the first Indian Institute of Technology graduate to take over the reins of the tiny tourist state.

The 45-year-old businessman from Mapuca has been the moving force behind the BJP's growth from a non-entity to become the ruling party in Goa. His meticulous style of working and organisational skills, combined with manipulative skills, has now made him Goa's 23rd chief minister.

He is the third chief minister in the last 16 months and the 13th in the last decade.

After graduating from IIT, Powai, he returned to Goa to work for the BJP as a committed worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. After making his presence felt in a couple of Lok Sabha elections, he led the BJP in the 1994 assembly polls, along with three others.

Parrikar succeeded in creating a moralistic image of the BJP in the minds of Goans, who, keeping aside their reservations about its communal tag, elected 10 of its candidates in the 1999 assembly elections.

During his first tenure in the assembly as an opposition member, Parrikar made an impact with his uprightness and exposed several scams, including the infamous power scandal.

In July 1998, the BJP legislature party extended support from outside to the government led by Dr Wilfred de Souza, who had split from the Congress, for five months before a split within de Souza's group led to its collapse.

The Congress government led by Luizinho Faleiro, which succeeded de Souza's, collapsed within three months. At that time, Parrikar was accused of backstabbing de Souza, who had another chance to form the government.

The BJP backed out after realising that people were against the toppling games and instead demanded President's rule.

The BJP emerged as the main opposition party in June last year. However, when Francisco Sardinha revolted against the Congress government in November, Parrikar decided to support Sardinha's coalition government.

Three among the ten BJP legislators became ministers in Sardinha's government, but Parrikar stayed out of the ministry even as he continued as leader of the BJP legislature party.

The BJP has reached the seat of power only after roping in eight Congress defectors. This time, Sardinha is accusing him of backstabbing.

Incidentally, he represents Panjim, the capital of Goa, in the assembly. Being a person with vision and having expertise in financial matters, Pannikar faces the uphill task of getting Goa out of the debt trap it has slid into.

Another challenge is that of completing the remaining three-and-a-half-year term without facing a revolt, which Goa has become accustomed to.

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Sardinha submits resignation to governor
Sardinha fears communalisation of Goa
Manohar Parrikar sworn in Goa CM

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