from daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, Jun 12: The time ahead seems to be tough for Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat who will have to tackle a difficult issue of allotting ministerial bearths to his colleagues.
Leading the Congress combine comprising NCP, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and two independents, Kamat has decided to finalize the ministerial allocations only after his Delhi visit. The chief minister left for Delhi on Monday where he is scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi, once she is back from foreign tour.
The differences are high in the Congress camp. The hangover of the feud between former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and Congress' Goa chief Ravi Naik, still prevails in the Congress camp. This is clear from the fact that Ravi Naik, who is unhappy with party's decision to install Kamat instead of him, is already camping in Delhi and meeting Congress leaders.
Kamat, on the other hand, met most of the Congress legislators over dinner in a five star hotel at Dona Paula on Sunday and tried to sort out all the differences. But the mission seems to be falling short of expectation. Kamat is now banking on his Delhi visit to come out with the solution after meeting Ms Gandhi.
A majority of the Congressmen have put their claims for the plum posts. Besides Congress, Kamat will have to satisfy his alliance partners and independents, on whose support, the government is dependent. This he will have to do, well before going for a vote of confidence on the floor.
Party sources confirmed that Rane, a senior Congressman who forwent CM's seat, will be rewarded with the speaker's post, this time. Ravi Naik has already been inducted into the cabinet. But several other Congress legislators are lobbying hard to get the ministerial berths.
"I will be able to comment only after Delhi visit... Don't expect me to say anthing at this point," Kamat told reporters after the swearing-in of pro tem speaker at the Raj Bhavan.
The assembly is expected to meet for a day-long session on June 15 to elect the speaker.