In a move to end political uncertainly in Goa, BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday announced that the ailing State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would continue in his office and that reshuffle of the State’s Ministers would soon take place in Goa.

“It has been decided during a discussion with the Goa BJP core team that Parrikar will continue to lead the Goa Government. There will soon be a reshuffle of Ministers and their portfolios,” Shah tweeted so following a discussion with the BJP’s core group team from Goa.

 Parrikar’s poor health had sparked speculation over his continuation as the Chief Minister of the State. Shah had recently sent Central party leaders to speak to allies and take stock of political situation.

The Opposition Congress, which is the single largest party in the State, has also staked claim to form the Government. The BJP has asserted that its Government continues to have the support of majority of MLAs. Currently, Parrikar is  admitted at the AIIMS and undergoing treatment for a pancreas ailment.

Shah’s announcement is seen as an attempt to prevent the Congress from fishing in troubled waters and destabilise the BJP Government which is deriving support from regional outfits.

In the last Assembly polls, Congress had emerged as the single largest party but BJP formed an alliance and managed the required support to form its Government in the State.

The BJP alliance partners have said they are committed to Parrikar and not the BJP, giving a clear message that a change of guard would not guarantee their backing to the BJP Government. 

Parrikar, 62, was flown to the national Capital owing to his declining health. He had returned from the US in the first week of September, days after which he was admitted to a hospital at Candolim in north Goa. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US.

Earlier, the BJP had sent its national general secretaries BL Santhosh and Ram Lal and Goa in-charge Vijay Puranik to Panaji to review the situation in the State. Shah’s comment on Sunday ended speculations that the BJP might be looking at any other leader to head the coalition Government.