http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=72649
Outside support: NCP move leaves D'Souza stunned RAJU NAYAK Posted online: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 PANAJI, JUNE 14, 2005: The NCP high command has decided not to participate in the Congress-led government in Goa and will instead support it from outside. The decision has upset its state chief Dr Wilfred D'Souza who is Deputy Chief Minister in the Pratapsinh Rane cabinet and also holds the plum Tourism and Environment portfolios. D'Souza, who will have to give up his plum portfolios, feigned ignorance about the NCP move."We don't know the decision of the high command", his aide said. The Deputy Chief Minister last week threatened to withdraw NCP support to the Rane government after his party colleague Mickey Pacheco failed to win a ministerial berth. Aware that the Rane government survives on a slim majority, D'Souza began to sound out the BJP on forming an alternative government. This prompted the NCP to rush two observers from Delhi to pacify D'Souza and declare that the party would not pull out of the government. But D'Souza may yet spring a surprise now that he is without a portfolio. The NCP decision to provide only outside support comes when Rane had reportedly assured Pacheco he would be made sports minister after awarding only two portfolios among his 10-member team. Rane discussed Pacheco's induction with legislature party members and his cabinet colleagues before conveying the decision to the high command. Today's NCP decision took even the Goa Congress leadership by surprise. (Indian Express) www.goa-world.com