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Francis D’Souza To Be BJP’s Leader In Goa Assembly In Manohar Parrikar’s Absence
Goa BJP chooses party veteran Francis D’Souza as its leader in CM Parrikar’s absence.
19 Feb 2018, 01:43 PM IST 
Manohar Parrikar wrote a letter to BS Yeddyurappa on 21 December. (Photo Courtesy: PTI)
The legislative wing of the Goa Bharatiya Janata Party today met before the start of the Budget session and chose senior leader Francis D'souza as its leader in the House in Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's absence.
Parrikar was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on Feb. 15 and is being treated for pancreatitis.
Francis D’souza is the senior-most leader in our group. So he will be the leader till Parrikar joins back.Vinay Tendulkar, President - Goa BJP
The Budget session, which begins today, will be curtailed to three to four days owing to Parrikar's illness.
The Budget will be tabled by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party minister Sudin Dhavalikar (instead of Parrikar who also holds the finance portfolio) who is the senior-most leader in the ruling coalition.Vinay Tendulkar, President - Goa BJP
During the meeting, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane briefed the members about Parrikar's health, Tendulkar said.
The chief minister was recovering and people shouldn't believe any rumours about his condition, he added.