Date:20/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/20/stories/2008012059250100.htm

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Goa crisis resolved

Gargi Parsai

Cabinet to be reshuffled

Rebels to be accommodated in Cabinet
Kamat to continue as Chief Minister

NEW DELHI: The crisis-ridden Congress-led Goa coalition was saved from the brink with dissident legislators pledging unconditional support to the Digambar Kamat government. In a formula that has been evolved, the Cabinet will be reshuffled to accommodate the dissidents and their grievances will be addressed. Mr. Kamat will continue as Chief Minister.

The breakthrough came after an agreement was reached on the portfolios to be allocated. There was a tussle over who should be dropped and who should be inducted in the government. The dissidents expressed a grouse against the functioning of Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar of the Congress. The final decision will be announced after a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

“The Goa crisis has been resolved,” said Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel, emerging from the meeting with the rebels. “All NCP MLAs, MGP MLAs, Independent Vishwajit Rane and the Save Goa Front member have decided to support the Kamat government.”

Mr. Patel was accompanied by AICC general secretary in charge of Goa B.K. Hari Prasad, PCC chief Francisco Sardinha, NCP leader Mickky Pacheco and Mr. Rane.

The four rebel MLAs arrived here on Saturday.

Mr. Prasad told The Hindu that the Cabinet would be reshuffled shortly. “The final decision will be announced in Goa when Mr. Kamat returns and after a meeting of the CLP.”

Without revealing names, a senior Congress leader involved in the talks confirmed that one legislator would be dropped from the government, while another would be inducted.

Since Friday Mr. Patel, Mr. Prasad and Mr. Kamat have been working on a satisfactory solution.

Mr. Kamat apprised Congress president Sonia Gandhi of the circumstances that reduced his government to a minority after three NCP legislators and an Independent withdrew support on Wednesday.

NCP president Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, warned of “extreme action” against the three party rebel legislators. He instructed Mr. Patel — who rushed to the State — to keep in readiness a letter to be delivered to the Speaker seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection provisions.

Earlier, the AICC suggested that the Special Economic Zone lobby was behind the move to destabilise the government.