BJP favours Pramod Sawant for next Goa CM, as per sources. Here's all you need to know about him

Following the passing away of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday, Goa BJP leader Pramod Sawant is being spoken of as being in the running to succeed him. Goa BJP leaders along with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari have been in talks with allies since early Monday morning.

Pramod Sawant's name had been put forward by the BJP as their pick to be Chief Minister of the state, as per BJP sources. The party also wishes to perform the swearing-in of the next Goa Chief Minister before 5 pm on Monday.

On the other hand, nine MLAs from parties in coalition (3 Goa Forward, 3 MGP and 3 Independents) have proposed Vinay Tendulkar's name to be the next CM, as per sources. But it appears that the coalition has reached a consensus, Republic TV has learnt.

READ | IIT Bombay Pays Tribute To Its Distinguished Alumnus Manohar Parrikar, Highlights His Involvement With Another IIT As Well

About Pramod Sawant:

Sawant is the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He is an MLA from Sankhalim in North Goa. He is also an Ayurvedic doctor by training.

Sawant holds a degree in BAMS (Bachelor in Ayurvedic Medicine) from Ganga Aruvedic Medical College, and also holds a degree in MSW (Master In Social Work).

He had tweeted about Manohar Parrikar's demise and called him a 'fatherly figure'.

READ | Jairam Ramesh Pays Respects To Manohar Parrikar, Harkens Back To Their Time At IIT Bombay

The Goa BJP has said that it will reveal its decision on who will be the next Chief Minister of the state by 2 pm on Monday, with the swearing-in set to take place at 3 pm, as per PTI, even as the Congress Goa MLAs are set to meet with Governor Mridula Sinha to stake claim to forming a government citing their larger number of MLAs.

Manohar Parrikar, the four-time Goa CM and former Union Defence Minister, passed away at his private residence on Sunday evening after battling Pancreatic Cancer. He was 63 years old.

The central government has announced national mourning on Monday. The national flag will fly at half-mast across the country. The Goa government announced on Sunday that it would observe seven days of state mourning, from March 18, 2019 to March 24, 2019.