Sawant sworn in Goa CM, allies extract pound of flesh

BJP's Pramod Sawant was Tuesday sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa, succeeding Manohar Parrikar, cremated hours earlier with state honours.

At a much-delayed swearing-in ceremony, held around 2 am Tuesday, 11 other MLAs, part of the Parrikar-led cabinet, were also sworn in as ministers.

The ceremony, held at a cramped Raj Bhavan, was to take place at 11 pm Monday but was delayed due to inexplicable reasons.

Sawant, 46, was Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly.

As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from MGP and GFP, two small parties backing BJP in the coastal state would be made deputy CMs.

Sawant said his party BJP has given him a big responsibility.

Talking to reporters, Sawant credited Parrikar, who died Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer, for brining him into politics.

After a stalemate following a series of meetings with the allies, he BJP managed to break the deadlock, offering them their pound of flesh, by accepting the ...