Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said discussions are on with alliance partners in Goa to choose a new Chief Minister following the demise of Manohar Parrikar. Speaking to reporters in Panaji this evening, he said  a decision would be announced soon.

Earlier, Mr Gadkari and BJP president Amit Shah held a series of meetings with party MLAs and also of coalition partners to pick a new chief minister.

The BJP-led Goa government is supported by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP), independents and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Following the demise of Manohar Parrikar, the strength of the Goa assembly reduced to 36 members. In the 40-member house, three seats had earlier fallen vacant following the resignation of Congress MLAs Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, and death of BJP MLA Francis D’Souza .

By-polls to these three constituencies are scheduled alongside Lok Sabha elections on 23rd April. Currently, the BJP has 12 MLAs in the house, while the Congress has 14.

As the single largest party, the Congress staked claim with Goa governor Mridula Sinha to form the government.