Digambar Kamat to be sworn in as new Chief Minister of Goa today

Panaji, June 8 (UNI) Digambar Kamat will be sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Goa today, heading the Congress-led coalition government.

He was elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in its meeting that began at midnight last night and lasted till 0100 hrs today.

One each from the NCP, the MGP and independent Viswajit Rane -- who are coalition partners -- are also likely to be sworn in at Raj Bhavan at 1100 hrs.

Mr Kamat, 54, was Minister for Power, Mines, Art and Culture in the outgoing government headed by Mr Pratapsinh Rane. He held the same portfolio for two terms in the BJP government headed by Mr Manohar Parrikar.

He has emerged as the ''dark horse'' after central observers R K Dhavan, Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and AICC general secretary in charge of Goa desk held a marathon one-to-one session with the legislators and senior leaders to elicit their opinion on the choice of leadership.

Though outgoing caretaker Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane and GPCC president Ravi S Naik were the hot contenders for the coveted post, Mr Kamat became the compromise candidate at the eleventh hour.

Mr Rane proposed the name of Mr Kamat and all others, including Mr Naik, seconded it.

Irate supporters of Mr Naik later shouted slogans against the central observers at the five-star resort where the CLP meeting was held.

The 16-member Congress has forged alliance with three-member NCP, two-member MGP and two independents -- Viswajit Rane, son of Pratapsinh Rane, and Anil Salgaoncar, a miner, for the formation of the government.

UNI