Goa CM Manohar Parrikar passed away at the age of 63.
Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar, who passed away late on Sunday (March 17) evening, once told India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai that he was worried about wearing his kolhapuri chappals while being the country's defence minister.
A man of simplicity, Manohar Parrikar was known for his love for Goa and worked towards the betterment of the state until his last days.
In 2016, Parrikar was asked whether his dressing sense was too simple for a minister with a major portfolio.
To that, he replied, "I am uncomfortable in western outfits like suits. Compared to previous defence ministers, my dress is much better."
Manohar Parrikar, who rose from a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to become the country's Defence Minister and also the Chief Minister of Goa enjoyed a man-next-door image in the politically-volatile coastal state.
Parrikar, 63, served the state four times as chief minister and had a three-year-long stint as Defence Minister in the Narendra Modi-led cabinet.
He was a leader who enjoyed acceptance from all sections of the BJP and beyond. He played a key role in making the BJP a force to reckon with in Goa, which remained for long a Congress bastion, with regional outfits having pockets of influence.
Born on December 13, 1955 into a middle class family, his political career began as an RSS pracharak and he continued working for the Sangh even after graduating from IIT-Bombay as a metallurgical engineer.
Parrikar never shied away from displaying his affiliation to the Sangh and was even photographed participating in the annual 'Sanchalan' organised by the RSS in the uniform and wielding lathi.
He even credited the surgical strikes conducted by Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during his tenure as Defence Minister to the teachings of the RSS.
Parrikar became chief minister of Goa for the first time on October 24, 2000, but his tenure lasted only until February 27, 2002. On June 5, 2002, he was re-elected and served another term as chief minister.
On January 29, 2005, his government was reduced to a minority in the assembly after four BJP MLAs resigned from the House.
After the Modi-led Cabinet was sworn at the Centre, Parrikar was offered a ministerial berth in November 2014. He remained in the Union Cabinet till 2017 when his party failed to garner a majority in the Goa legislative assembly polls.
He returned to the state in March 2017 when he managed to woo alliance partners such as Goa Forward Party and MGP to support him to form the government.
His health started deteriorating in February 2018 and he was first admitted at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for pancreatic ailment. He was flown to the US in the first week of March last year where he remained admitted at hospital till June.
Parrikar attended the monsoon session of Assembly from July 19 to August 3, and left for the USA on August 10 for the second round of checkup. He returned to Goa on August 22, 2018.
After being treated at a makeshift medical facility at his residence, Parrikar was shifted to the AIIMS New Delhi on September 15 last year.
After almost a month-long treatment, he returned to Goa on October 14.
Parrikar stunned everyone when he reached the CM's office on January 2 this year after a gap of almost two-and-a-half months.
On January 27, he attended the inauguration of the third bridge on Mandovi river along with Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
He also attended the budget session on January 29 and presented the state Budget the next day. On the last day of the session on January 31, he was taken for treatment to AIIMS, New Delhi and returned to Goa on February 5.
Parrikar also addressed the Atal Booth Karyakarta Sammelan on February 9, 2019 in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah.
During the last few days, Parrikar had been in and out of Goa Medical College and Hospital for treatment, but was mostly confined to his private residence.
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