BJP to take decision on next Goa CM based on feedback: Parrikar

Goa Chief Manohar Parrikar, who will be resigning from his post tomorrow, on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will take a decision on the next state chief based on the feedback it receives.

"I have met everyone individually, as well as the supporting parties, who have clearly said that they will stand by the BJP's decision. However, I cannot say anything about the party's decision as of now. It will be taken tomorrow. They will make the decision looking at the feedback," said Parrikar.

"Today's meeting was not regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister, but it was about my appraisal and giving the party MLAs the information of events unfolding in the last few days," he added.

The Goa Chief Minister will be leaving for Lucknow on Monday to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier today, Parrikar had said that the decision over the next state chief will be taken after he resigns.

According to reports, Goa Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar and state's Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar are the frontrunners in the race for the Chief Minister's post.

Parrikar had last evening indicated that he may join the Union Cabinet at the Centre, saying the BJP has asked him to take any assignment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers.

According to sources, 58-year-old Parrikar may be given the Defence portfolio.

The Goa Chief Minister had earlier on Wednesday held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah in the national capital, leading to speculations that he may be given a Cabinet berth.

Among others, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is expected to be allotted a Cabinet berth.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's son Jayant too is in the race for the Cabinet berth, with reports suggesting that he is being considered as a Minister of State (MoS) for Defence or Finance. Other key people expected to be promoted are MoS Nirmala Sitharaman and Haryana leader Birender Singh.