Manohar Parrikar resigns as Defence Mantri; set to don Goa CM's role

Panaji, Mar 13: Manohar Parrikar on Monday resigned as the Defence Minister to take over the new role as Goa Chief Minister. "I have tendered my resignation as Defence Minister. The resignation letter has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office this morning," Parrikar said.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has invited Parrikar to form the next government in the coastal state after he submitted a letter of support from 21 legislators. Parrikar, who took the BJP to victory in the 2012 Goa assembly polls, had resigned as the Chief Minister and took over as Defence Minister on November 9, 2014.

"Initially I was finding the role as Defence Minister difficult but during last two-and-a-half years I have done my job well. I have done it with full honesty," Parrikar said.

"The Defence Ministry is such a portfolio where allegations are always levelled against the minister, but during last two-and-a-half years, despite so much of procurement, there was not a single allegation against the ministry or me," he said.

Parrikar said, "If I want to sum up my achievements as Defence Minister, I can say I have worked towards boosting the morale of the forces and for better procurements." Parrikar pointed out that through various defence deals, the ministry saved crores of rupees as many tenders were over-quoted by the earlier central (UPA) government.

The BJP leader who spearheaded the party's campaign in Goa was tipped to be the next Chief Minister of the coastal state if party manages to form the government. Parrikar had represented Panaji constituency in the Assembly for last four terms before being elevated as a Union minister in the Modi cabinet.

Parrikar served as the Chief Minister of the state in three terms -- 2000-2002, and 2002-2005 and later from March 2012 till November 2014.

PTI