Early elections to Assembly ruled out,HC to decide Cong-NCP tie-up

Panaji, Sep 29 (UNI) Virtually ruling out early polls to the 40-member Goa assembly, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane today said that he would abide by the decision of the Congress high command regarding the disputed pre-poll alliance with the NCP.

Interacting with media persons after a cabinet meeting here, Mr Rane said all his cabinet colleagues were in favour of ''completition of the full term of office of the current Assembly'' and pooh-poohed reports in a section of the press about early polls.

''There is no difference of opinion among all our cabinet colleagues on the issue of holding polls as scheduled. It is the for Election Commission to decide the poll schedule,'' Mr Rane quipped.

To a demand from a section of the Congress legislators to go it alone in the forthcoming polls, Mr Rane said that the NCP continued to be their coalition partner, and it was for the Congress high command to decide for or against continuance of the coalition.

It might be recalled that GPCC president Mr Ravi Naik, accompanied by Town and Country Planning Minister Atanasio Monserrate (Babush) had airdashed to New Delhi a few days ago and conferred with the party high command including AICC general secretary Mrs Margret Alva, amid rumours of seeking premature polls in Goa.

A section of partymen had also sought disciplinary action against south Goa MP Churchil Alemao for launching a vituperative campaign against the consensus spirit of the party despite directives from the high command to maintain unity and cohesion.

Mrs Alva is expected to arrive in Goa shortly, to discuss these issues with the leadership and prepare the party for the forthcoming polls in mid next year.

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