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Congress returns in Goa with Luizinho Faleiro as CM

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

In a sudden late-night development, Luizinho Faleiro was sworn in as Goa's third chief minister in the last four months, bringing the Congress back to power.

Breaking the stalemate that had prevailed throughout the day after Chief Minister Wilfred de Souza resigned at 1.15am today, the governor, Lt Gen (retd) J F R Jacob, invited Faleiro to form the government.

The confusion had arisen as Dr Kashinath Jalmi, leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a partner in the coalition led by Dr de Souza, had staked a claim to form the government, claiming the support of 24 legislators in the forty-member house.

Recalling the President's decision to first invite I K Gujral from within the United Front to form the government after H D Deve Gowda's exit as prime minister, Jalmi had requested the governor to similarly invite him, while seeking 72 hours to submit his list of 24 supporters.

Faleiro, who inducted Dayanand Narvekar, leader of the rebels who quit de Souza's Goa Rajiv Congress, as his deputy, later claimed that at least three more members of the GRC would rejoin the Congress, increasing his party's strength to 22. Besides, one independent MLA supports the Congress.

Faleiro plans to expand the Cabinet, inducting at least 12 more ministers, while facing a floor test within two days even though the governor has given him 21 days to prove his majority.

"My dharma will be to finish adharma", he proclaimed.

EARLIER REPORT: Congress move to form government delayed

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