Sunday, June 5 2005 10:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Congress-led United Legislature Party (ULP) is likely to form the next Government in Goa having won in three Assembly seats, the results of which were declared this morning (Jun 5, 2005).

Congress won Taleigao and Margao seats while NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) won Benaulim seat.

Congress has now 17 MLAs and its coalition partner NCP has two and MGP one in the 34-member State Assembly.

Micky Pacheco (NCP) defeats his nearest rival Monte D'cruz (UGDP) by 2,937 votes in Benaulim.

In Taleigao, Atanasio "Babush" Monseratte (Cong) won against his BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) rival Pradeep Nagvenkar by 6228 votes.

Congress candidate Digambar Kamat won Margao seat.

Bypolls in five Assembly seats were held on June 2.

The process of Government formation and the candidate for Chief Ministership will now be discussed with the AICC (All India Congress Committee) General Secretary in charge of Goa, Margaret Alva camping in the city.

The State, which was brought under President's Rule on March 4 and where the legislature is in suspended animation, has been rocked by repeated political turmoil as Congress-led ULP and BJP were afflicted with razor-thin majority and frequent changes of loyalties by MLAs.

BJP has 14 MLAs.