Panaji: With outgoing Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar confirming today that he would be moving to the Centre to take over an important portfolio, the power corridor here is abuzz about Goa Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar being the frontrunner for the post of the new CM.
Arlekar was involved in a land dispute relating to purchase of a 500 sq metre plot by him at a cost of Rs 72 lakh in Porvorim.
Arlekar had then rubbished allegations of wrongdoing and had asked the state government to file a case against a social activist who filed, what he called a "false and malicious" complaint against him.
Arlekar had then placed all documents relating to the land transaction before the local deputy superintendent of police of Anti-Corruption Branch.
Goa Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is another contender for the CM's post. Both Arlekar and Parsekar have RSS backgrounds and have headed the party in the past.
Speaking to reporters today, the outgoing CM Manohar Parrikar said: "The nation is greater than the state. Our Prime Minister has told me he would be going to give me a big responsibility. The cabinet expansion may take place on November 9.
"I will honestly fulfull the responsibility that will be entrusted to me. The new chief minister of Goa may take oath on November 8", said Parrikar.
