Cong-NCP alliance close to cobbling simple majority in Goa

Panaji, June 5 (UNI) Emerging as the single largest group in the Goa Assembly, the Congress-NCP combine today appeared set to retain power in the tiny coastal state.

The Congress-NCP combine bagged 19 seats in the 40-member House and was close to cobbling a simple majority.

Mr Vishwajeet Rane, son of Chief MInister Pratapsinh Rane, who won from Valpoi assembly constituency, has announced his support to the Congress taking the tally of the ruling coalition to 20.

Congress is in talks with another Independent Anil Salgaonkar, who won the Sarvodem Assembly seat.

The newly-elected legislators of the Congress-NCP alliance will meet this evening to chalk out their strategy for staking claim to form the next government in the tiny coastal state.

As per the final party position, Congress emerged the single largest party winning 16 seats, NCP won three, BJP 14, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Save Goa Front and Independents two each and United Goans Democratic Party one.

Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane won his traditional Poriem seat for the ninth time, while Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar retained his Panaji constituency for the fourth time and bettered his victory margin since 2002 despite the fact that his lone rival city-based builder Dinar Tarcar had conducted an impressive and aggressive campaign.

The heavyweights who lost were Assembly speaker Fransisco Sardinha, former Chief Minister Luizinhno Faleiro, Subhash Shirodkar and Jeetendra Deshprabhu.

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