Back on his feet, Manohar Parrikar goes to House

Ending days of speculation about his health, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar returned to his state on Thursday, after undergoing week-long treatment for pancreatic ailment in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital.

Parrikar also released a statement, saying he has been advised a number of short-term precautions, during which his public interactions will be limited. However, he would be discharging his duties as chief minister, he said in the statement.

Parrikar flew to Goa on a special aircraft immediately after his discharge from Lilavati Hospital on Thursday morning. He went home briefly and headed to Porvorim, the Assembly building, where he held a meeting of the state cabinet before presenting the financial statement and appropriation accounts in the legislature. The Assembly approved a vote on account for five months, with a full Budget to be presented in the monsoon session.

Parrikar was airlifted to Mumbai last week and his illness had led to the Budget session being curtailed to four days, ending Thursday. The development had led to speculations about the future of the BJP's minority government in the coastal state, in case of Parrikar's absence.

"With all humility, with support, prayers and well-wishes of not only the honourable members of this house, but lakhs of my Goan brothers and sisters, including leaders of various communities, religions, I stand before you in this august house with renewed strength and confidence to present the annual financial statement for 2018-19," Parrikar said, before presenting the budget.

"Sir, my health status has prevented me from preparing a detailed budget speech outlining policies and achievements and new schemes...," he said, adding this year would be the "year of employment."

In the 2017 Goa Assembly elections, the BJP could get just 13 legislators elected as against the Congress's 17. However, it came to power with support from smaller parties like the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward, (three MLAs each) and three Independents, who supported it on condition that Parrikar—the then defence minister—return as the chief minister.