Tuesday, June 7 2005 07:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Veteran Congressman Pratapsinh Rane will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Goa today (Jun 7, 2005) following his unanimous election as the leader of the party's Legislature group, ending three months of President's rule clamped after prolonged political turmoil.

Rane met Governor S C Jamir at the Raj Bhawan last evening (Jun 6, 2005) and staked claim to form Government after presenting to him a letter of support from Congress allies National Congress Party (NCP) and MGP.

"We have presented letters of support from NCP and MGP to his Excellency this evening and staked our claim to form the Government. The swearing will be held tomorrow at 10 a m," Rane told reporters outside Raj Bhavan as he and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ravi Naik emerged from the meeting with Jamir yesterday.

In a related development, the Union Cabinet met in Delhi and decided to recommend to President A P J Abdul Kalam revocation of President's Rule in Goa, which was imposed in March.

Earlier yesterday morning, Rane was unanimously chosen as the leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) at a meeting of MLAs, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of Goa Margaret Alva said.

Alva said although it was initially decided to entrust party president Sonia Gandhi to take the decision on electing the CLP leader but Sonai had conveyed to her that the MLAs should discuss the matter and elect the leader.

Denying reports that he was a compromise candidate, Rane, a long time Chief Minister said, "I have been elected unanimously by the CLP".