With decks being cleared for Manohar Parrikar's return to Goa as Chief Minister, a new Defence Minister is likely to be appointed to replace the BJP strongman whose tenure saw clearance of a raft of arms deals besides simplification of the acquisition process.
Parrikar's tenure as Defence Minister was marked by fast-paced decision-making as the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a range of projects and military purchases. He had also pushed for a number of stalled acquisition projects.
The deals finalized during Parrikar's tenure included purchase of 21 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers from American aviation giant Boeing and the US government.
Last year, the DAC headed by Parrikar had approved the much delayed purchase of 145 Ultra Light Howitzers worth about Rs 5,000 crore from the US and also bulk production of 18 Dhanush artillery guns, the first acquisition of such a weapon system by the army in three decades since the Bofors scandal.
In March last year, Parrikar had come out with a new defence procurement policy with an aim to ensure transparency in defence deals, fast-track acquisition process and indigenization of defence procurement.
In September last year, India had inked a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and equipped with latest missiles.
It was under Parrikar, known for taking a hard line on the issue of countering cross-border terrorism, that the army had launched the surgical strike in PoK in September last year in retaliation for the attack on a defence establishment in Uri.
Parrikar had assumed charge of Defence Ministry in November 2014 from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
In Panaji, Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said Parrikar will resign as Defence Minister before taking oath as the new Chief Minister of Goa.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold the Defence portfolio till a replacement for Parrikar is found.
Earlier in the day, the Goa BJP passed a resolution requesting the central leadership to make Parrikar the Chief Minister. BJP's prospective allies had also made Parrikar's return a pre-condition for their support.
Parrikar, an IIT (Bombay) alumni, had said some time ago he had still not "settled" in the national capital as he can never be a "Delhi politician", indicating his fondness for Goa.
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