Manohar Parrikar: BJP's troubleshooter in Goa was such a political journey

Manohar Parrikar, who came as the defense minister and Goa Chief Minister by the RSS campaigner, in his coastal home state of Goa, the image was a plain, normal person. Parrikar, 63, served as Chief Minister of Goa four times and served three years as the Defense Minister in the Narendra Modi-led Cabinet. Along with all the sections of BJP, the popular parikarak among the various parties has played a vital role in promoting the BJP's influence in Goa, which has long been a Congress stronghold.

Manohar Parrikar: BJP's troubleshooter in Goa

Born on December 13, 1955 in a middle-class family, Parrikar started his political career as the RSS campaigner. After graduating from engineering from IIT-Bombay, he continued to work for the RSS. Parrikar had associated with RSS from a very young age. In the last days of the school he became the RSS head teacher. Parrikar never felt any problem with his association with the Sangh. A photograph taken in his "Operation" organized by his association confirms this, in which he appears as a union of union and sticks in his hand.

After completing his studies from IIT, he became a unionist in Mapusa at the age of 26. During his tenure as Defense Minister, he also gave credit to the education of the Indian Army's surgical attack in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is believed that in order to stop the rise of 'Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party', the oldest regional party in the state, BJP dragged Parrikar into politics. Parrikar entered into electoral politics in 1994, when he won the election on the BJP ticket from Panaji assembly constituency.

He served Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly from June to November 1999 and was known for his speeches against the then Congress-led government. He became Chief Minister of Goa for the first time on October 24, 2000 but his tenure lasted only till 27 February 2002. After this he was re-elected on June 5, 2002 and served as Chief Minister. After resigning from the House on January 29, 2005 of four BJP MLAs, his government came under minority.

After this, Pratapsingh Rane of Congress became the Chief Minister of Goa instead of Parrikar. Parrikar-led BJP lost in 2007 to the Congress led by Digambar Kamat. However, in the year 2012, Parrikar's popularity came in the state and he won his 21 seats out of 40 seats in the assembly. He again became the Chief Minister of the state. The BJP's victory streak also remained in 2014 when the party won both the Lok Sabha seats in the general elections.

Parrikar was given the post of Defense Minister in November 2014 after taking the oath of cabinet under Modi's leadership at the Center. He has been in the Union Cabinet till 2017. On getting the majority of the party in the Goa assembly elections, she returned to the state in March 2017 and managed to form a coalition partner like Goa Forward Party and MGP. Once again, his government was formed in the state. His health began to worsen after February, 2018. He was then admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai for the treatment of pancreatic diseases. He went to America for treatment in the first week of March, where he stayed in the hospital till June.

After returning to the state, Parrikar started working again and also joined the 12-day assembly session. In the second week of August, he went to the United States for treatment again and returned a few days later. He went to America again and this time he was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi after returning from there. For the past, he was confined to his own private residence of Downa Paula, and here he breathed his last today.