Counting of votes for the five Assembly bye elections began this morning on a tense note both at Margao and Panaji today 5/6/2005.
The counting agents of the respective parties and supporters were all present at around 0700 hrs. There was a huge police bandobust just in case tensions rise as the results were declared. Being a Sunday there was the expected crowd. Tommorrow schools begin for the academic year 2005-06 The results as confirmed from the election office. 11 Taleigao Assembly Constituency INC Antanasio (Babush) Monserate 14 Cumbarjua Assembly Constituency INC Pandurang Madkaikar 28 Benaulim Assembly Constituency NCP Francisco (Micky) Pacheco 30 Margao Assembly Constituency INC Digamber Kamat 40 Poinguinim Assembly Constituency BJP Ramesh Tawadekar NEW COMPOSITION BJP (17) Mr Manohar Parrikar, Mr Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar, Dr Suresh Amonkar, Mr Francisco D Souza, Mr Ramrao Desai Mr Dayanand Mandrekar, Mr Vinay Tendolkar, Mr Vishwas Satarkar, Mr Narhari Haldankar, Mr Damodar Naik , Mr Laximikant V Parsekar, Mr Sadanand Shet, Mr Rajendra Arlekar, Mr Rajesh T Patnekar, Mr Vasudeo M Gaonkar Mr V Pai Khot Mr Ramesh Tawadekar UGDP (1) Mr M Saldhana Total 17 + 1 =18 ************** INC 18 Mr Pratapsing Rane, Mr Agnelo Fernandes, Mr Aleixo Sequeira, Mr Chandrakant Kavlekar, Mr Dayanad Narvekar, Mr Francisco Sardinha , Mr Francisco Silveira, Mr Giovani Karl Vaz, Mr Harish Zantye, Mr Jeetendra Desprabhu, Mr Joaquim Braz Alemao, Mr Luizinho Faleiro, Mr Ravi Naik, Mr Subhash Shirodkar, Ms Victoria Fernandes Mr Atnasio (Babush)Monserate Mr Pandurang Madkaikar Mr Digamber Kamat NCP 2 Dr Wilfred De Souza Mr Francisco (Micky) Pacheco MGP 1 Mr Ramkrishna Dhavlikar 18 + 2 + 1 = 21 *************** The INC becomes the single largest party with 18 followed by BJP 17 NCP 2 UGDP 1 and MGP 1 it therefore follows that the INC can form the combine with its pre-poll ally the NCP now with two seats and the support of the lone MGP to give it 21 seats as against the simple majority of 20 in a House of effective strenght 39. It is not known whether the BJP will prefer to seat in the Opposition or take advantage of the squabbles that are bound to arise. Notwithstanding the claims of the Low Command in Goa to prefer a majority community member for the post of Chief Minister it is for certain that the blue eyed boy of Madam Sonia Gandhi, viz Mr Luizinho Faleiro will be the CM but that would depend on how the NCP settles down to this bargain. Alternatively Mr Digamber Kamat who is believed to have been promised the Chief Ministerial post may lay his claim in which case the NCP Dr Wilfred De Souza will have to be made the Deputy Chief Minister a non constitutional post. But there is one feeling that the BJP UGDP (18) combine may agree to lend support to the NCP MGP in which case the strenght will be 21 with a Chief Ministerial berth to Dr Chief Minister and a quid proquo to allow the cases of disqualification to meander in the Supreme Court until the next elections in May 2007 . As official figures are still awaited from the Officer of the Chief Electoral officer given the near close margins of some of the candidates. The BJP is also thinking in terms of resigning en masse as one senior activist has given this writer to understand. This is however intended to follow only if the INC NCP begans wrangling for Chief Ministerial candidate and other portfolios so that an impression is created that the predicted instablilty of the INC NCP will not augur well for the development of the State and the BJP would not like to be seen as responsible for the collapse of the administration owing to the INC NCP rumblings. This is the vox populi view at the counting centres around the Multipurpose High School at Gogal Fatorda where counting took place. While in Taleigao Mr Monserate voters began celebrations the Margao camp was by and large peaceful, apparently the winners are engaged in confabulations on the formation of Government. from the Counting Centre at Margao GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________ Too much spam in your inbox? Yahoo! Mail gives you the best spam protection for FREE! http://in.mail.yahoo.com