Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is responding well to his treatment in the US, Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Thursday. Prabhu spoke to the chief minister and expressed hope that he would return soon to resume his responsibilities of "developing Goa as a leading state". Parrikar, 62, is currently undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at a hospital in the US.

The former defence minister left for USA in the first week of March. Prabhu wished a speedy recovery to Parrikar in a twitter post today:

 

Spoke to @manoharparrikar, who is responding well to medical treatment in the US.Wishing him well for speedy recovery so he returns to India soon to resume his responsibilities of developing #Goa as leading state.

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) May 10, 2018

BJP president Amit Shah is expected to visit Goa on May 13 to address the party workers near Panaji. Before leaving Goa, Parrikar had formed a cabinet advisory committee to guide the state administration on governance and other issues, in his absence.

The committee comprises Sudin Dhavalikar (of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), Francis D'Souza (of the BJP) and Vijai Sardesai (of the Goa Forward Party). The MGP and the Goa Forward Party are allies of the ruling BJP in the coastal state.