Goa CLP to meet on Monday to decide on leader

| 05 June 2005 19:11 IST

he Congress Legislature Party in Goa will meet on Monday to decide on its leader.

The meeting comes amidst indications that the race for chief ministership may be limited to Pratapsing Rane, Ravi Naik and Lusinho Faleiro.

Hectic parleys are on among the Congress and its allies for formation of a government after they stormed back to power winning four of the five assembly seats in the June 2 bypolls.

"The Congress Legislature Party will meet on Monday morning to decide its leader. Today, all the candidates want to meet their workers. That is why we are meeting on Monday", said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ravi Naik.

"We will consult our allies and then the governor with our claim," he added.

When asked if there was any issue over the leadership, Naik said, "There will be a unanimous choice and there is no question of any tussle. The credit for this cannot go to one person. It has to be shared by all."

Former chief minister Pratapsing Rane, whose government was dismissed in March leading to imposition of President's rule, was elected CLP leader last time.

However, Congress party sources say there is a great deal of opposition for Rane within the party.

The Congress has maintained that the chief minister will be from within the party, but with contenders like Naik, Rane and Faleiro, all of whom have held the post before, choosing a leader will not be easy.

There is also a possibility that all those who have won the polls will be given ministerships in the new cabinet.

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