Francisco Sardinha

Francisco Sardinha
Sardinha in 2022
Lok Sabha MP of South Goa
In office 23 May 2019 – 4 June 2024
Preceded by	Narendra Keshav Sawaikar
Succeeded by	Viriato Fernandes
In office 2007–2014
Preceded by	Churchill Alemao
Succeeded by	Narendra Keshav Sawaikar
In office 1998–1999
Preceded by	Churchill Alemao
Succeeded by	Ramakant Angle
7th Chief Minister of Goa
In office 24 November 1999 – 23 October 2000
Preceded by	Luizinho Faleiro
Succeeded by	Manohar Parrikar
MLA of Curtorim (Goa)
In office 1999–2007
Preceded by	Gaonkar Antonio Damiao
Succeeded by	Aleixo Lourenco
In office 1977–1994
Preceded by	Eduardo Faleiro
Succeeded by	Gaonkar Antonio Damiao
Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly
In office 2005–2007
Deputy	Victoria Fernandes
Preceded by	Vishwas Satarkar
Succeeded by	Pratapsingh Rane
Personal details
Born	(1946-04-15) 15 April 1946 (age 78) Curtorim, Goa, Portuguese India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Maria Columba Sardinha ​ ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	3
Residence(s)	Curtorim, Goa
Alma mater	Parvatibai Chowgule College Nirmala Institute of Education

Francisco Cosme Sardinha (born 15 April 1946) is an Indian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP), representing South Goa Lok Sabha constituency.^[1] Prior to that, he served as the Chief Minister of Goa from 24 November 1999 to 23 October 2000 and as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly from February 2005 to June 2007. He is a senior leader of the Indian National Congress party having won 6 times as MLA from Curtorim assembly and 4 times as Lok Sabha MP from South Goa constituency.

Francisco Sardinha was born on 15 April 1946 in Curtorim, South Goa district to Caetano Sardinha and Rosa Maria Sardinha. He is married to Maria Columba Sardinha since 23 May 1976 and has three sons.

Sardinha was a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from 1977–1994.^[2] He held many portfolios in the Government of Goa under the Chief Ministership of Shri Pratapsing Rane. He was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 from Mormugao constituency in Goa.

He again became a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly in 1999 and remained in office till 2007.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999, he broke away from the Indian National Congress and formed a new political party, the Goa People's Congress, and became Chief minister of a coalition government in the state. He remained in office till 2000.^[3]

Later, Sardinha's GPC merged with Indian National Congress on 5 April 2001. He became Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly in 2005.

He was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in a by-election in November, 2007 from Mormugao. He was re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009 from South Goa constituency.^[4]

Mr. Sardinha is credited with many pioneering contributions in Goa's development especially in education, agriculture, and sports. In his term as Member of Parliament (2009–2014), he was appointed Chairman of the Estimates Committee, the most prestigious committee of Lok Sabha. He was the 25th Chairman of the Committee since 1950 and one of the five longest-serving Chairmen.^[5]