Laxmikant Parsekar, presently Goa's health minister, will be the state's new chief minister, party sources said Saturday.

 

 His name was formally proposed by outgoing chief minister Manohar Parrikar and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza at the second meeting of party MLAs Saturday. He will be the state's 11th chief minister.

 

 Parsekar's candidature has also been endorsed by the highest decision-making body of the BJP, the parliamentary board, sources said.

 

 He will take the place of now former chief minister Manohar Parrikar who resigned from office after his elevation to the union cabinet, possibly as defence minister.

 

 While Parrikar will be sworn into the union cabinet Sunday afternoon, Parsekar will be sworn in at 4 p.m. Saturday along with a select lot of ministers, including that of alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and at least one independent.