Thursday, February 3 2005 19:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: The Pratapsinh Rane Government in Goa was expanded today (Feb 3, 2005) with the induction of six Cabinet Ministers including four whose support is crucial to provide stability to the new Congress-led dispensation.

Only two of the six sworn in at a ceremony at Raj Bhawan this evening belong to Congress, former Chief Minister Luisinho Fernandes and Dayanand Narvekar.

The other four are Wilfred D'Souza of NCP (Nationalist Congress Party), a Chief Minister for brief spells in 1994 and 1998, Sudhin Davlikar of MGP and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MLAs Isidoro Fernandes and Pandurang Madgaikar who resigned from the Assembly last week contributing to the exit of saffron party-led Ministry.

With today's induction, the strength of Rane Ministry went up to eight.

Rane was sworn in as Chief Minister and Independent MLA Philipe Neri Rodriguez as his Deputy late last night soon after the dismissal of the BJP-led Government by Governor S C Jamir.

Fernandes and Madgaikar said after their swearing in that they have not yet joined Congress and would take a decision only after consulting their supporters.

Rane said his Ministry would be expanded further soon.

AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary Margaret Alva said in Delhi that Rane and Faleiro have been called to the national capital tomorrow for consultations on portfolio allocation among the Ministers.

NCP sources said D'Souza could be made another Deputy Chief Minister.