Central observers yet to shortlist chief ministerial candidate

Panaji, June 7 (UNI) The Congress' central observers failed to arrive at a consensus over the choice of chief ministerial candidate for Goa, even after a marathon one-on-one interactive session with the newly elected legislators and other senior party leaders till late this evening.

Party emissaries R K Dhavan, MP, and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, besides AICC general secretry in charge of Goa desk Margret Alva told the mediapersons that the discussions were still in progress and nothing can be said at the moment.

The trio later called on caretaker Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane at his Altinho official residence to elicit his opinion as he did not turn up at the five-star hotel, where they initiated discussions with the party leaders soon after they aird-ashed from Delhi this afternoon.

With this, the chances of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) electing its new leader to form the governmnt today became remote.

Two MGP legislators and Mr Rane's son Viswajit (independent), besides NCP leaders, called on the central observers to express their opinions on the issue.

Though Mr Rane and GPCC president Ravi S Naik are in the race for the coveted post, some party sources did not rule out emergence of a ''dark horse'' late tonight.

(Ed: here pickup suitably from BY-8&22 related series) UNI