The Hindu : Front Page : Rane to seek trust vote "as soon as possible"

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Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

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Front Page

Rane to seek trust vote "as soon as possible"

By Anil Sastry

PANAJI, FEB. 8. The Goa Chief Minister, Pratapsinh Rane, has said that he would seek a vote of confidence on the floor of the Legislative Assembly "as soon as possible" within the 30 days' time given by the Governor, S.C. Jamir.

He was addressing a press conference here after assuming office last Wednesday. Asked about the possible disqualification of the Independent MLA, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Mr. Rane said: "Let's see when the situation comes."

Would he favour dissolution of the Assembly in the event of the Government failing to secure a confidence vote? Mr. Rane said he was against dissolution. "It is up to the Governor and the President of India."

If Mr. Neri is disqualified, both the Congress and the BJP will have 17 MLAs, enabling the Speaker, Vishwas Satarkar, who is from the BJP, to cast his deciding vote.

Mr. Satarkar has posted two disqualification petitions against Mr. Neri for Wednesday for further hearing.

The Cabinet will have two Deputy Chief Ministers — Mr. Neri and Wilfred D'Souza — and two Ministers without portfolios — the Pradesh Congress chief, Luizinho Faleiro, and the Congress MLA, Dayanand Narvekar. Ramakrishna Dhavlikar and Pandurang Madkaikar, who were Ministers in the Parrikar Government, will continue to hold their old portfolios.

Mr. Rane said that it was the desire of Mr. Faleiro and Mr. Narvekar not to have any portfolio till the Government won the trust vote.

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