NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister of India's western state of Goa Pramod Sawant Wednesday won the trust vote in lawmaking body, officials said.
While 20 lawmakers voted for Pramod Sawant, the new chief minister, 15 voted against him.
"Today Chief Minister Pramod Sawant won the floor test in Assembly," a local government official said. "The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led ruling coalition has 21 legislators -- 12 from the BJP, three each of allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three independents. The opposition Congress has 14 lawmakers.
Ahead of the Wednesday's floor test, BJP had moved its lawmakers to a five-star hotel to secure its numbers for the trust vote.
Sawant was administered the oath of office and secrecy at 2:00 a.m. (local time) on Tuesday by Governor Mridula Sinha.
Sawant succeeded Manohar Parrikar, who passed away on Sunday following a prolonged illness.
The strength of the 40-member Goa Assembly House was reduced to 36 after the death of two lawmakers and the resignation of two Congress lawmakers.
The new government has two deputy chief ministers, GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP Lawmaker Sudin Dhavalikar.
