CM Manohar Parrikar likely to attend Goa Assembly's Budget session on Wednesday, says BJP

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is recuperating at a Mumbai hospital, is likely to Goa Assembly on Wednesday and Thursday, even as the government plans to curtail the budget session to just four days. 

Parrikar is likely to attend the house on Wednesday and Thursday, state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar said Parrikar was likely to fly down to Goa on Tuesday night and attend the assembly on Wednesday and Thursday. “However, we are of the opinion that he must take rest,” he stressed.

The Chief Minister has been admitted to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai since Friday for treatment of mild pancreatitis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on his erstwhile cabinet colleague in the hospital on Sunday. 

The budget session of the Goa assembly started on Monday with Governor Mridula Sinha’s address.

A minister from the Goa government told DNA that the session would be curtailed to just four days ending Thursday, with a vote on account being approved for the next five months. 

“A vote on account will be approved and the budget will be tabled… for being passed in the monsoon session,” he added. 

The BJP parliamentary party also selected Mapusa MLA and former deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza as its group leader in the assembly in Parrikar's absence. Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) minister Sudin (Ramkrishna) Dhavalikar would  hold charge as the leader of the house and was likely to table the budget considering his seniority in case Parrikar could not make it to the legislature. 

The minister added that Parrikar was recovering fast. 

Parrikar, who was the Defence Minister in Modi government before shifting back to Goa in August 2017 to hold the chief ministerial portfolio, also holds charge of the finance department. 

He was admitted to the hospital in Mumbai after he complained of a stomach ache. Earlier, he underwent a check-up at government-run Goa Medical College on Wednesday.