Manohar Parrikar reaches Goa after being discharged from hospital; may present state budget today

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has been discharged from hospital following hospitalisation for a pancreatic ailment. He returned to Goa on Thursday afternoon and is likely to present the state budget as well, media reports said. Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes informed the floor of the House that Parrikar landed in Goa by a special flight at 11.55 am on Thursday, a report on The Indian Express said. [caption id=“attachment_4356981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Manohar Parrikar. Reuters[/caption] “All prayers have been heard. He is currently gone home. He has a strong willpower, so he may present the budget also,” the report quoted Michael Lobo, deputy speaker, as saying outside the Assembly. Security has been beefed up in the area before Parrikar’s arrival, it said. A report on The Times of India on Tuesday had said that Parrikar had been fine-tuning the state budget from his hospital bed in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. It is said that Parrikar had finished drafting his speech and that he was in touch with state government officials for finalising the provisions of the budget. Parrikar was in touch with public works department minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, the report said, adding that the latter has been authorised to clear all files pertaining to pending business of the House. Meanwhile, in an indication about how important Parrikar is to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the future of its government in Goa, allies Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) have both said they will remain part of the alliance till the time Parrikar remains the chief minister. As reported by The Economic Times, the MGP has pledged its support to the Parrikar government, but only till such time that he remains the chief minister. “Till he is the chief minister, we are there with the government,” party chief Deepak Dhavalikar said, adding, “The MGP has pledged its support to the BJP-led alliance and we will not withdraw it till Parrikar is the chief minister.” The MGP has three legislators, support of whom is crucial for BJP, as it has only 14 MLAs. There are also three MLAs from the Goa Forward Party and two Independent MLAs who have provided the Parrikar government with support in a 40-member Assembly that is precariously balanced in favour of the saffron alliance. GFP president Vijay Sardesai also said that his party’s support to the government will continue till Parrikar is the chief minister. “Parrikar is fighting a medical condition. He has always been a winner. He will come back soon to Goa,” Sardesai was quoted by The Economic Times as saying.