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Hooda to be new Haryana CM

New Delhi, March 4
The Congress Member of Parliament from Rohtak, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was today elected leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, ending the almost month-long suspense over the race for leadership in the state.

A total of 52 of the 67 elected Congress members attended the meeting, which was boycotted by former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and the MLAs supporting him. Eight of the nine MPs from Haryana were present, the only absentee being Mr Bhajan Lal's son, Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi.

Mr Janardhan Dwivedi, who is the Congress General Secretary in charge of Haryana, and party observers P M Sayeed and Ashok Gehlot also attended the meeting.

Earlier, the state unit of the party had authorised Congress President Sonia Gandhi to select the party leader. The Congress won a three-fourth majority in the recent elections in the state, defeating the Indian National Lok Dal headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Mr Hooda and former PCC chief Choudhary Birendra Singh were the frontrunners among the half-a-dozen contenders for the top post.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was today congratulated by several of his party's newly-elected MLAs as he arrived to attend the legislature party meeting in New Delhi to elect its leader, indicating well in advance that he could be the next chief minister of the state.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal today stayed away from the crucial state Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting here today to elect its new leader, amidst indication that Bhupinder Singh Hooda could be chosen for the top post in the state.

Mr Bhajan Lal and his supporters did not come for the meeting attended by about 50 MLAs, including S. S. Surjewala, HPCC working President Randeep Singh Surjewala, BCCI chief Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Chief Ministerial hopefuls O. P. Jindal, Virendra Singh and Union minister Selja.

Hours before Congress President Sonia Gandhi announcing the name of the new Haryana Chief Minister, state PCC chief and a strong contender for the post, Bhajan Lal had a meeting with her to discuss government formation in the state.

Before his meeting with Ms Gandhi, Bhajan Lal was closetted with 34 party legislators who were supporting his candidature for the top post.

Soon after he left 10 Janpath, official residence of Ms Sonia Gandhi, AIIC general sercretary Janardana Dwiwedi was called by her to convey her choice of the next Haryana Chief Minister in the light of the reports submitted by the three Central observers as also her discussions with other senior party leaders, both from the Centre and the state. — PTI, UNI

Rane wins vote of confidence in Goa

New Delhi, March 4
The 30-day-old Pratapsingh Rane government in Goa won the vote of confidence today, but the controversy continued with the Supreme Court likely to constitute a seven-Judge Bench to look into the constitutional validity of Governor S. C. Jamir's decision to dismiss the Manohar Parrikar government.

Just hours before the voting in the state Assembly, the apex court today posted for Monday the hearing on the ousted Chief Minister's petition saying: ''Supposing you (Parrikar) win during the floor test, the matter is over. But if you lose, we will hear you on merit. We have to constitute a seven-Judge Bench to hear the petition.'' Mr Parrikar has challenged the February 2 decision of the Governor dismissing his government and appointing Mr Pratapsingh Rane as Chief Minister.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice R. C. Lahoti and Mr Justice D. M. Dharmadhikari deferred the hearing for the second time to watch the developments in the Goa Assembly. The apex court had earlier deferred the hearing on February 28.

Before the Vote of Confidence began in the state Assembly, senior counsel Soli J. Sorabjee, appearing for the petitioner, wanted the court to at least restrain the Speaker from passing any order after the floor test.

The hearing was adjourned because the petition would become infructous, if Mr Rane lost on the floor of the House. However, if he wins, the petition would survive and the court would look into the validity of the decision of the Governor. — UNI