Three CMs among losers in Goa polls

Panaji, June 5 (UNI) Three former Chief Ministers bit the dust today in the elections to the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly.

NCP president of the state and deputy chief minister Dr Wilfred De Souza lost to the nearest BJP rival Dilip D Parulekar by a margin of 1957 votes from his Saligao bastion. He was formerly chief minister of Goa for three times during 1993-98.

Another loser was speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mr Francisco Sardinha from Curtorim constituency in South Goa who lost to his nearest Save Goa Front rival Alexo R Louraco by 1827 votes.

Industries minister Luizinho Falario also lost to SGF chief Churchill Alemao in Navelim. Both were former Chief Ministers.

The winners included Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane from his bastion Poriem in the remote rural area of North Goa who defeated his BJP rival Vasudev Ramnath Parab by a margin of 3736 votes.

His son Vishwajit Rane was declared elected as an Independent from Valpoi constituency by defeating his nearest BJP rival Gaonkar Puti by a margin of 3549 votes.He resigned as GPCC general secretary as also from the primary membership of the Congress party at the eleventh hour to file his nomination as an Independent.

Former chief minister and the BJP opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, projected as the chief ministerial candidate, retained his capital city Panaji constituency by defeating his Congress rival Dinar Tarkar in a straight contest by a margin of 1444 votes.

The GPCC president and former chief minister Ravi S.Naik had retained his Ponda constituency. He was chief minister for 7 days between April 2 and 8,1994.

UNI