PANAJI: Congress leader Pratap Singh Rane was sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa, following hours of frenetic political activity, late on Wednesday night.
Philipe Neri Rodriguez, an independent legislator, will be his deputy. Governor S C Jamir administered the oath of office and secrecy to both at Raj Bhavan. The rest of the cabinet members are likely to sworn in on Thursday. After the sworn-in ceremony Rane said that the Governor had not given him any time-frame to prove his majority on the floor of the House. "But, I will do so before presentation of the budget for the next fiscal," he told reporters here. Rane said his government top priorities would be rural development, urban slum development and bringing in more industries in the state. Asked whether Independent MLA Philipe Neri Rodriguez, who was also administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor S C Jamir, was his choice, he said "yes". Asked whether Rodriguez was rewarded as it was his eviction from the assembly just before the confidence vote that set off pandemonium in the House, Rane denied this. Asked how he would prove his majority when both sides had equal numbers on their sides, the Chief Minister simply smiled.
