Wednesday, June 8 2005 10:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: New Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane yesterday (Jun 7, 2005) met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the issue of Ministry expansion, which is likely to take place by Friday (Jun 10, 2005).

There are several Ministerial aspirants and Rane, who was sworn-in yesterday morning, will have to tread cautiously in choosing members of his Council of Ministers.

Rane, along with State Congress chief Ravi Naik, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Atansio 'Babush' Monserrate and Pandurang Madkaikar, and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Margaret Alva had a 40-minute meeting with Sonia Gandhi.

The Ministry is likely to be expanded by Friday, sources said.

Goa Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Wilfred D'Souza and lone Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Ramakrishna Dhavalikar were sworn-in as Cabinet Ministers along with Rane, ending three months of Central rule in the State.