M A I N   N E W S

6 Cong MLAs threaten to quit
Margaret Alva rushes to Goa
Shiv Kumar writes from Panjim

SIX MLAs from the Congress party in Goa are threatening to topple the two-day old Pratapsingh Rane government by resigning from the Assembly thereby pushing the government to a minority.

The group comprising party spokesman Jitendra Deshprabhu, Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao, Lutolim MLA Alexio Sequiera and others have threatened to send their resignations to the Speaker of the Goa Assembly, Mr Vishwas Satarkar.

The six MLAs secluded themselves at an unknown location outside the capital and were planning their strategy after Rane expanded his Cabinet on Thursday. Only former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro and MLA Dayanand Narvekar of the Congress were inducted into Rane’s team. The four others who were part of the new dispensation were from the allied parties and two breakaway MLAs from the BJP.

“My workers are disappointed as I have not been inducted into the Cabinet. I am under pressure to resign,” party spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu told journalists before going into seclusion. According to Deshprabhu’s loyalists, he is not even taking telephone calls from Rane.

As the revolt in the Congress threatened to topple the infant government, the party leadership rushed AICC General Secretary in charge of Goa, Margaret Alva to broker peace.

The six MLAs have been told to meet Alva before proceeding to the Speaker.