Parrikar takes the reins of Goa CM for 4th time

14 March, Panaji

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar became chief minister of Goa for the fourth term Tuesday.

Sixty one-year-old Parrikar, who hails from Mapusa in North Goa district, was Defence Minister before assuming the post and will have to prove his strength in the 40-member Assembly by Thursday.

Having studied in Loyola High School in Margao and completed secondary education in Marathi language, Parrikar has a degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay.

Parrikar’s affiliation to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took place at a tender age.His political career as an MLA started in 1994 and he went on to become chief minister of the state six years later. However, his tenure was short and he was again elected as chief minister in 2002. But again he could not complete his tenure as his government was toppled in 2005.

His stint as chief minister of the state started again in March 2012 when his party and its alliance together won 24 seats. However, he had to resign as chief minister after his inclusion in the Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.

Though from Mapusa, Parrikar has represented Panaji constituency in the state assembly for over 20 years.

One of the senior leaders in the BJP, Parrikar is known for his administrative skills. He has two sons Utpal, an engineering graduate and Abhijat, a businessman.

Parrikar is currently Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh.