From Ayurveda Practitioner to Goa CM: Who Is Pramod Sawant

During Parrikar’s illness, Sawant was reportedly tasked with attending various public functions on his behalf.

Pramod Sawant was sworn in at 2 am on Tuesday, 19 March, amidst a political frenzy that broke out in the state following the demise of Manohar Parrikar.

(Photo: PTI)

From being an Ayurveda practitioner to being named Goa’s new chief minister, 46-year-old Pramod Sawant has come a long way. He was sworn in at 2 am on Tuesday, 19 March, amidst a political frenzy that broke out in the state following the demise of Manohar Parrikar.

A two-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Sanquelim in North Goa, Sawant is also known to be a dedicated RSS worker since his childhood.

Staunch Parrikar Supporter

He began his political career in the BJP as a youth wing leader and was seen as a staunch supporter of former CM Parrikar. Sawant won the 2012 and 2017 Assembly election, from Sanquelim constituency, which used to be a Congress stronghold.

It was during Parrikar’s last tenure that Sawant was elected as the Speaker of the state Assembly.

He is a former chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, a special purpose vehicle set up by Parrikar to take up various infrastructure works in the coastal state.

During the former chief minister’s illness, Sawant was tasked with attending various public functions on his behalf.

‘The Obvious Choice’

Born on 24 April 1973, and a student of Ayurveda, Sawant is a medical practitioner by profession. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from Ganga Education Society's Ayurvedic College in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.

His wife Sulakshana Sawant is currently the President of the Goa unit of the BJP Mahila Morcha.

According to The Indian Express, Sawant was seen as the ‘obvious’ choice by party supporters and that the delay in announcement came as the allies were not convinced.

(With inputs from PTI, The Indian Express)