Tuesday, February 8 2005 20:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane today (Feb 8, 2005) allocated portfolios to his Ministers, with those in the previous Parrikar Government retaining their old portfolios even as two Congress Ministers in the Cabinet refused to accept any Ministries until the Government proved its majority on the floor of the House.

Former BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, who resigned and crossed over to the Congress, retained his portfolios of Transport and Revenue while Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) retained the PWD, Fisheries and Archives departments. Independent MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues the Water Resources portfolio.

"Both Congress Ministers, Luisinho Faleiro and Dayanand Narvekar have refused to accept a portfolio for now Dr Wilfred D' Souza of the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) will handle Tourism for now and we may consider giving him more Ministries later," Rane told reporters here adding Isidore Fernandes, who along with Atanasio Monserrate led the revolt against the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) was allocated Industries Ministry.