NCP claims Dy CM's post in Goa

New Delhi: The Congress-NCP combine is all set to stake claim to form the government in Goa on Wednesday. Congress' pre-poll ally NCP, which emerged the third largest party is likely to ask for the Deputy Chief Minister's post in the new dispensation. NCP has three seats

The newly-elected Congress legislators met at the residence of Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane on Tuesday evening and worked out a broad strategy to form the government. AICC General Secretary in-charge of Goa Margaret Alva and Pradesh Congress President Ravi Naik also attended the meeting.

The Congress, which fought the polls in alliance with Sharad Pawar's NCP, has won 19 seats in the 40-member Assembly and hopes to rope in some smaller parties and Independents to reach the simple majority figure of 21.

Meanwhile, the NCP legislators have unanimously elected Fransisco Pacheco, a minister in the Pratapsingh Rane ministry, as the leader of Goa NCP Legislature Party. Pacheco, who won from Benaulim constituency, was elected as the leader by two other members of the party — Jose Philip (Vasco) and Nilkant Halarnkar (Tivim).

The meeting was held under chairmanship of Goa unit President Wilfred D'Souza. He said the party leaders, which had pre-poll alliance with Congress, are meeting Congress on Wednesday to discuss government formation.

However, there are indications that the deputy chief minister's post is going to be the bone of contention between the two parties.

Leaders of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had earlier made it clear that if voted to power, the party will seek the Deputy CM's post. In the absence of Goa NCP chief Wilfred D'Souza, who lost to BJP candidate in the Saligao constituency, party legislator Fransisco Pacheco is likely to be the choice for the No 2 position in the new Cabinet.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Anil Salgaoncar, who is being roped in to help the Congress-led coalition reach the magical figure of 21, has apparently demanded a bigger post. "There are talks of him asking for the Speaker's post or Deputy Chief Ministership," a Congress leader said.