Goa crisis resolved, cabinet expansion soon Saturday, January 19, 2008 (Panaji)
The political stalemate which was on in Goa for the past four days has been resolved with the state NCP leaders striking a compromise with the Congress.
The Congress and NCP have said that Goa Cabinet will be expanded within a day or two, and key portfolios will be shuffled.
But a clearer picture is expected to emerge after NCP MLAs from Goa meet with Congress leaders in Delhi, later on Saturday.
On Friday, both the parties had held several meetings in the capital to arrive at a compromise formula. Goa CM Digambar Kamat is in the capital for talks with party president Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress government led by CM Digambar Kamat had been reduced to a minority after four MLAs, including the NCP ministers withdrew support on Wednesday. Digamber Kamat will go back to Goa on Saturday evening.
The Congress government in Goa was fighting for its survival and its fate was said to be in the hands of eight MLAs including the three NCP members who triggered the crisis after withdrawing support on Wednesday.
Babush Monserate who was one of the MLAs who withdrew support along with the NCP MLAs said that the Congress government must meet their demands by Saturday. The architect of controversial Goa regional plan, which was opposed so strongly by Goa citizens is now likely to be reinducted into the Goa Cabinet.
Goa is not new to political volatility. It has already seen 15 Chief Ministers in 15 years. Goa can have only 13 ministers so it will be reshuffling of the cabinet and some ministers will lose portfolio. One needs to wait and watch how Kamat handles this.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080038928&ch=1/19/2008%207:39:00%20PM
