Goa headed for a hung Assembly

Panaji, June 5: Goa appeared headed towards a hung Assembly todaywith the ruling Congress-NCP combine and the BJP engaged in a stiffbattle for emerging as the single largest group.

Independents and smaller parties are expected to be the''kingmakers'' in the formation of the new government in the tinycoastal state.

Of the 32 seats filled in the 40-member Assembly, the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine had bagged 19 seats.

The BJP had captured 14 seats while the Maharashtrawadi GomantakParty (MGP) and former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao's Save Goa Front(SGF) had bagged two seats apiece.

Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane's son Viswajit Rane, who contested as an Independent, had won North Goa's Valpoi seat.

With just 8 results outstanding, no formation appeared to be certain of touching the magical 21-seat mark.

Chief Minister Rane (Poriem) and Leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar (Panaji) retained their respective bastions.

Congress retained Calangute, St Andre, Poriem, Ponda, Margao,Velim, Loutlim, Cuncolim, and wrested Cortalim from UGDP and Curchoremfrom BJP. However, it lost Mormugao to BJP.

NCP wrested Tivim and Vasco from BJP, while retaining Benaulim.

BJP retained Mandrem, Panaji, Bicholim, Canacona, Poinguinim and Mapusa.

Former Chief Minister and industries minister in the Ranegovernment Luizinho Failero was trounced by Mr Churchill Alemao of SGFin Navelim.

Goa assembly Speaker Francisco Sardinha was defeated by Alexo Reginaldo Louraco of SGF in Curtorim.

Congress legislature party spokesperson and Kala Academy vicepresident Jitendra Deshprabhu of Congress lost his Pernem constituencyto BJP's Dayanand Sopate by over 2,000 votes.

Deputy Chief Minister and Goa NCP president Dr Wilfred D'Souzalost his traditional Saligao constituency to BJP's Dilip Parulekar byover 1,000 votes.

Congress-NCP bagged 4 seats (Cong 3 and NCP one) in North Goa, 8in South Goa (seven by Congress and one by NCP). BJP won 3 seats eachin North and South Goa.

UNI