Jaitley to assume additional charge of Defence Ministry tomorrow

New Delhi [India] Mar. 13 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will assume additional charge of Defence Ministry tomorrow. President Pranab Mukherjee, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted Manohar Parrikar's resignation from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. As advised by Prime Minister Modi, the President has directed that Jaitley shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios. This development comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to form the government in Goa under the leadership of Parrikar, who will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state tomorrow. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha invited Parrikar to form the next government in the coastal state last night after he submitted a letter of support of 21 legislators. Three MLAs of the Goa Forward Party, three of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and two Independents have pledged their support to Parrikar. The BJP, which won 13 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly, managed to garner support from other parties and Independents to attain majority under Parrikar. The Congress got 17 seats in the recently concluded polls. (ANI)