Congress-NCP combine set to retain power in Goa

Panaji, June 5 (UNI) With 19 out of 40 Assembly seats in its kitty, the Congress-NCP combine was tonight exploring the possibility forming a coalition government in Goa with the support of regional parties and Independents.

The Congress-NCP alliance is exploring the possibilities of forming the coalition government in a day or two with support of two Independents and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to get a majority in the 40-member House.

The Congress is leaving no stone unturned to get the required support to cross the magical 21 figure in the House before approching Governor S C Jamir to stake claim to form the government.

MGP president Pandurang Raut told UNI that the party would meet tomorrow to discuss its stand whether to support the Congress.

Viswajit Rane, son of Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, had already expressed his support as an Independent candidate. The other Independent Anil Vasudev Salaoncar, an industrialist from Sanvordem, is yet to come out in the open to support the Congress.

The question of seeking support of either the Churchill Alemao-led Save Goa Front that won two seats or the United Goans Democratic Party, which won one seat does not arise as both of them were sworn enemies of the Congress.

The newly elected Congrerss members are formally meeting tonight at the Chief Minister's official residence at Altino in the capital to review the situation and adopt a suitable strategy.

In all likelihood, the Chief Minister is expected to call on the governor to tender his resignation after the Congress elects a new leader of the legislature party tomorrow.

If everything goes well, Mr Rane will be elected leader of the CLP in consultation with the alliance partners, if chinks in the party do not surface over the leadership.

The new house, which is to be constituted before June 11, will have only one woman member--the deputy speaker Victoria Fernandes re-elected from Santa Cruz--as before in the 40-member house.

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