Congress sweeps to victory in Goa

June 06: The Congress once again keeps the throne in Goa and is due to rule for five more years. The Congress led coalition in Goa defeated BJP's comeback bid on Tuesday, and secured another five year term in the state.

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Congress and NCP bagged 19 seats in total, just two short of full majority in the 40 member assembly. While Congress got 16 seats, two short of its previous tally of 18 in the outgoing House, NCP cornered three, gaining one seat.

However the leading coalition can easily secure the majority with the support of smaller parties and independents.

BJP the arch rival won 14 seats, failing to increase its tally, while other winners include NCP (3), MGP (2), Save Goa Front (2), UGDP (1) and independents (2).

Congress has already got the certainty of one more seat from the Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane's son, Vishwajit, who won as an independent candidate. He has already announced that he would support the Congress, taking the tally to 20, just one short of the majority.

The other seat required to get the majority could come either from the MGP, which was already part of the outgoing Rane government or from the other independent Anil Salgaonkar, who won from Sanvordem seat.

The Congress party nevertheless had its upsets with deputy chief minister and state Congress president Wilfred D'Souza, defeated by BJP. Also Former Congress chief minister Luizinho Faleiro lost Navelim seat to SGF chief Churchill Alemao, who quit his Lok Sabha seat to take on Congress by contesting 17 seats.

The other seat which caused an upset was Curtorim where Francisco Sardinha, Speaker of the House, lost to his one-time political worker, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.

However, soon after the results were declared, senior Congress leaders went into a huddle to step up the party's bid to form the next government. Leaders said despite upsets in some constituencies, the overall outcome was in the party's favor.

The BJP has virtually conceded defeat, with its leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying the party had failed to get the expected number of seats.

"It is a matter for the newly elected MLAs to decide in consultation with the high command," AICC secretary Mebel Rebello said.

Meanwhile, Rane has been asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister by governor S.C.Jamir, till new government is installed. Rane said, “It is a routine affair to resign for the process of a new government to come to power and I have submitted my resignation.”