Willy threatens to
withdraw support
Sandesh Prabhudesai
9 June 2005
The four-day old Pratapsing Rane government has plunged
into crisis as deputy chief minister Wilfred de Souza, belonging
to the Nationalist Congress Party, has threatened to withdraw
support to the Congress-led ruling alliance.
Dr de Souza told reporters in Surat at the NCP convention
that party president Sharad Pawar will shortly take a final
decision as newly elected party MLA Micky Pacheco has been
denied cabinet berth in tomorrow’s cabinet expansion.
The Congress is however trying to rope in lone United Goans
Democratic Party legislator Mathany Saldhana, to save its
alliance government.
UGDP general secretary Prashant Naik said they would support
the Rane government.
Rane was sworn in the chief minister on 7 June, after the
two-member NCP and one-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party
officially supported the 18-member Congress.
Accordingly, NCP local president Dr de Souza and MGP’s
Sudin Dhawalikar were also inducted in the cabinet, along
with Rane.
However, the controversy arose as the Congress refused to
induct Pacheco in the cabinet, scheduled to be expanded tomorrow
morning.
In the 39-member Assembly, Congress-led alliance was holding
majority with 18-member Congress, two-member NCP and one-member
MGP, against 17-member Bharatiya Janata Party.
Though de Souza now plans to withdraw support, the Congress
can still be in majority of 20, if the UGDP supports them
along with the MGP.
With a tie of 19 each on both the sides with NCP-BJP combine
on the other hand, Congress speaker Francisco Sardinha could
save the government by giving his casting vote in Rane’s
favour.
The three-month old President’s rule in Goa was revoked
on 7 June, following the by-elections held on 2 June, where
the Congress won three seats while the NCP and the BJP had
won one seat each.
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