Date:15/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061504941200.htm

National

Trial of strength in Goa today

Special Correspondent

Pratapsinh Rane is ruling coalition's candidate for Speaker's post

PANAJI : The Congress-led coalition Government of Digambar Kamat, which assumed power in Goa last week following a fractured mandate in the Assembly polls, will face a trial of strength on Friday when the first session of the newly constituted Assembly is held to elect the Speaker.

As expected, the senior-most legislator and former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane (68), who recently passed on the baton to Mr. Kamat, will be the official candidate of the ruling coalition. Mr. Rane, who has returned to the Assembly for a record ninth term and has had the longest tenure as Chief Minister, was the Speaker from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Kamat said Mr. Rane was backed not only by the Congress, the NCP, the MGP, an Indepedent and all the alliance partners, but he also has the support of the SGF.