Independents, small parties hold key, as Goa votes for hung Assembly

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance emerged as the single largest combine in the 40-member Goa Assembly, but fell short of the magic majority figure of 21 by two seats.

Panaji, June 5 : The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance emerged as the single largest combine in the 40-member Goa Assembly, but fell short of the magic majority figure of 21 by two seats.

The Congress won 16 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 14, NCP three and others seven.

In such a situation, independent candidates and smaller parties will hold the key to the formation of the next government in the State.

Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has won from the Poriem Assembly seat.

Former Goa Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Parrikar has won the Panaji seat by defeating Congress candidate Dinar Tarkar.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Ravi Naik, Power Minister Kamat Digambar and NCP's Agriculture Minister Pacheco Xavier Francisco are the other winners.

In a surprise result, Save Goa Front candidate Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco defeated Congress's Goa Assembly Speaker Franciso Sardinha in the Curtorim constituency.

Counting was held for the Goa Assembly at two centres -- in Panaji and in Margao.

There are 19 Assembly constituencies in North Goa District and 21 in South Goa District.

In all, there were 202 candidates, including 49 independents in the fray.

As many as 68.79 per cent of the 1.1 million-odd voters exercised their franchise on June 2.

ANI