Is BJP Cobbling Together A Government In Goa? 

Despite being the second largest party in the Goa Legislative Assembly, and falling short of majority by eight seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seem to be on the road to forming the government in Goa, once again.

The BJP won 13 seats in the 40-member Vidhan Sabha, with incumbent Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and several other sitting ministers losing their seats. Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza managed to win from Mapusa. The BJP, however, managed to get 32.5 per cent of the vote share, thereby getting the maximum popular vote, with former chief minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar saying that the people had still voted for the BJP, and that they would try and provide a stable government.

The Mahrashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and the Goa Forward Party (GFP), both with three seats, as well as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with one seat have agreed to support Parrikar, according to a CNN-News18 report.

The BJP legislative board has also unanimously voted in favour of Parrikar returning to Goa as its chief minister, which will necessitate a cabinet reshuffle at the centre. With support from the MGP, GFP and NCP, the National Democratic Alliance can cobble up 20 seats, and would in all likelihood be able to get one of the three independent MLAs to support them to form the government.