Panaji, Jan 2 (IANS): With elections to the Goa state assembly less than two months away, the Trinamool Congress has opened its Goa chapter and has installed a former chief minister as its state president.

Confirming his appointment, Wilred de Souza told IANS Monday that he had just received the fax appointing him as president of Trinamool's Goa unit.

"They have appointed me as the president of their Goa chapter. I have received the appointment letter by fax today," said de Souza, who has been the chief minister of Goa twice.

De Souza resigned as state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) a couple of years back, after his supporters accused NCP supremo Sharad Pawar of communalism and sidelining Christians in the party's state unit.

The former chief minister, who was hobnobbing with the Congress until recently, is incidentally the deputy chairman of the state planning board, a position which has a cabinet status.

Asked if the Trinamool will be contesting in the state elections slated for March 3, de Souza said it was for the party leadership in Kolkata to decide.

"That you will have to ask them (Trinamool high command). They will take a decision on that. I will discuss with them what they want and accordingly see," he said.