Manohar Parrikar is a former two-time Chief Minister of Goa.
Ahead of the assembly elections in Goa, scheduled for February 4, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that a chief minister has to be "young at heart", even if it is a "slightly elder person". This comes amidst the strong speculation that
Mr Parrikar could make a return to state politics if the BJP retains its control in Goa.
"The chief minister, whoever he is, has to be young at heart," Mr Parrikar said, replying to a voter's question at a BJP youth convention in Panaji.
"Though there is a requirement of youth to be the chief minister, I feel that the chief minister can be a slightly elder person who can understand the aspirations of the youth," he added.
The Union Minister also said that political stability is a compulsion for the development of a state like Goa.
"I remember, in 1989, I never thought I was destined to be in politics. In those 10 years, I saw at least 12 chief ministers.. If you want to have a comprehensive development of Goa, the plan needs to be worked out. But during that time, there was no plan," Mr Parrikar said.
At a rally yesterday, BJP president
Amit Shah had announced that should the party retain power in Goa, the next government would function under Mr Parrikar's leadership - which fuelled strong rumours of the Defence Minister's return to the coastal state.
Even Union Minister Nitin Gadkari hinted that the chief minister could either be someone from the legislators, or could be sent to the state from the Centre.
Manohar Parrikar, then Chief Minister of Goa, was inducted into the Union government as Defence Minister in 2014. He was succeeded by Laxmikant Parsekar as Goa Chief Minister.
(with inputs from PTI)