Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar presented the Budget in the state assembly on Thursday, 22 February, after being discharged from the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, where he was undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment.
He was admitted at the Mumbai hospital a week ago.
After landing in Goa, Parrikar went to his residence in Panaji, following which he arrived at the State Assembly. Before presenting the Budget, he also attended a Cabinet meeting held in the Assembly complex.
Earlier, it was not clear whether Parrikar would table the Budget or not.
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar presenting the Budget in the State Assembly.
(Photo Courtesy: ANI)
Speaking to reporters outside, Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Michael Lobo had said:
Parrikar has arrived in Goa. It is a good piece of news that he has been discharged. But it is not still clear whether he would be tabling the budget (today). Parrikar has so much will power that he has recovered, and if he thinks that he should table the budget, he will come and do it.Michael Lobo, Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Sudin Dhavalikar to Present Goa Budget
Earlier, the legislative wing of the Goa BJP had met on 19 February, before the start of the Budget session, and had chosen senior leader Francis D'souza as its leader in the House in Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's absence.
The State Budget was supposed to be tabled by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party minister Sudin Dhavalikar (instead of Parrikar, who also holds the finance portfolio), as he is the senior-most leader in the ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Parrikar in Lilavati Hospital on 18 February.
Authorities Deny Surgery Rumours
Authorities and the Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had on Saturday, 17 February, denied media reports that Parrikar was expected to undergo surgery. The Lilavati hospital too had issued a statement dismissing reports as rumours.
Reports about Parrikar’s alleged surgery which had appeared in a section of the local media were dismissed as false by the CMO. The CMO had said he was under treatment at the Mumbai hospital for "mild pancreatitis".
Parrikar was rushed to the Mumbai hospital on 15 February, a day after he was admitted to the state-run Goa Medical College near Panaji, for stomach pain.
(With inputs from PTI, IANS)
(This story has been updated)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)