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New Goa government sworn in

An 11-member Indian National Congress (Sardinha) government was sworn-in at the Raj Bhavan this evening at a hurriedly arranged function in Panaji excluding the three members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who are to be sworn-in tomorrow.

The swearing in followed the cancellation of a specially called goa assembly session to enable Luizinho Faleiro to seek a vote of confidence.

Among those sworn-in as ministers are eleven members of the INC (Sardinha) group, including Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha, Deputy Chief Minister Dayanand Narvekar, Subhash Shirodkar, Mauvin Godinho, Francise D'Souza, Francise Silveira, Alexio Sequira, Somnath Zuarkar, Arecio D'Souza and Venkatesh Desai. The cabinet has only one woman member -- Victoria Fernandes.

The state governor, Lt General J F R Jacob administered the oath of office and secrecy and Chief Secretary Ashok Nath read out the warrant of appointment.

Earlier, Faleiro submitted his resignation without facing the confidence motion in the 40-member Goa assembly at 1 pm today.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, Faleiro met Lt Gen Jacob an hour before the House was to meet for the confidence motion, and submitted his resignation.

Following this, Jacob informed the Assembly Speaker Pratapsinh Rane that Faleiro has resigned and gave orders to prorogue the assembly. He, then, immediately invited Francisco Sardinha, who had already staked his claim to form the new government.

The Congress government in Goa had faced a severe jolt when Health Minister in the state cabinet Francisco Sardinha, split the Congress Legislative Party, along with 11 other dissident MLAs stating 'single man authority' in the state affairs.

He then had staked claim to form the alternate government in the state with support from the 10-member Bharatiya Janata Party and other opposition parties like the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Nationalist Congress Party and an independent.

Sardinha and his group refused last minute reconciliation with the Congress, who had despatched two senior leaders Govindrao Adik and Ramesh Chennithala from the centre to bring about an understanding between the warring groups.

Sardinha is expected to take oath of office and secrecy here this evening.

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