Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday took oath as the new Chief Minister of Goa after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislative meeting here, where all the MLAs unanimously decided to select him for the top post.
Apart from Parsekar, 10 other MLAs took oath as state Cabinet ministers at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan here in the presence of Goa Governor Mridula Sinha. Outgoing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was also among the guests.
It was earlier reported that Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza wanted his elevation as the chief minister, thereby spreading speculations that there might be a rift within the state BJP.
However, party general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told the media that Parsekar's name was proposed by Parrikar and seconded by D'Souza.
Besides Parsekar, D'Souza and Goa Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar were said to be in the race for the Chief Minister's post.
