Manohar Parrikar resigns as Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is tipped to be the country's Defence Minister, tendered his resignation on Saturday.

Parrikar is expected to file his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh later in the day.

The Goa Chief Minister's resignation came after the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board.

BJP leader J.P. Nadda after the Parliamentary Board meeting, which was chaired by party chief Amit Shah, today said the decision on who will be Parriker's successor will be made by the evening.

"The Parliamentary Board held discussions on Goa Legislative Assembly.... and nomination for the Rajya Sabha member from UP. The decision will be announced at 4 pm today," he said.

The race for Goa's Chief Minister's post seems to have caused a rift within the BJP in the state with several MLAs threatening to resign if Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza is not elevated to the top post following Parrikar's resignation.

D'Souza, Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Goa Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar are in the race for the Chief Minister's post.

Earlier on Friday evening, 58-year-old Parrikar got emotional while talking about the prospect of leaving his home state.

"It is very difficult for me to leave the state. I have lost my wife about 12-13 years ago, it is difficult family wise. But nation is first," he said.