Congress leader Pratapsinh Rane was sworn in as the chief minister of Goa on Tuesday morning, after the three-month-old President's rule was revoked.
Along with him, Governor S C Jamir also administered the oath of secrecy to Nationalist Congress Party leader Dr Wilfred D'Souza and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's Sudin Dhawalikar.
D'Souza will be the deputy chief minister in the Congress-led government.
Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar and his Bharatiya Janata Party colleagues, besides other Congress leaders, also attended the swearing in ceremony, held at the Raj Bhavan.
Rane later told journalists that he would shortly expand the cabinet.
In a 39-member assembly, Rane enjoys support of 21 members, including 18 from his own party, two NCP and one MGP MLAs.
The Congress strength increased from 15 after three of its candidates won the recent byelections.
These three-- Digambar Kamat, Babush Monserette and Pandurang Madkaikar-- had quit the BJP in February, thereby toppling the four-year old Parrikar government.
Rane is taking over as the chief minister for the sixth time. The 66-year-old veteran politician became chief minister for the first time in 1980.
© 2024 Rediff.com -