Despite a fractured verdict, the Congress-NCP combine is set to retain power in Goa after they bagged 19 seats in the 40-member Goa assembly, just two short of the simple majority.The main opposition BJP secured 14 seats, while the rebel Congress leader Churchill Alemao's party - the Save Goa Front (SGF) - bagged two seats. Another regional party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) also bagged two seats and independents won the remaining two.Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane's son, Vishwajit, who won as an independent candidate, has already announced that he would support the Congress, taking the tally upto 20, just one short of the majority. The one seat required for majority could come from either the MGP, which was already part of outgoing Rane government or from other independent Anil Salgaonkar, who won from Sanvordem.Update at 1434 hrs: With the Goa assembly polls set to throw up a hung verdict, BJP and Congress locked in a neck and neck race are engaged in a wait and watch game."Wait for some more time," is the refrain of BJP state in-charge Rajiv Pratap Rudy as also AICC secretary Mebel Rebello. Rudy and Rebello, who are both camping here, suggested that they were waiting for a clear picture to emerge.Smaller parties like Save Goa Front formed by former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao as also former ministers like Babu A Monserratte hold the key to the formation of the next government.Alemao, who parted ways with Congress and formed the Save Goa Front, has been able to win two seats so far while MGP, UGDP and independents have bagged one seat each.Monserratte had run into controversy after he floated a regional plan as Town Planning Minister and it was a major issue in the run up to the elections.Goa has been known for its mercurial politics marked by instability due to changing loyalties and infighting. The past two decades have seen 15 chief ministers.The election this tiem has resulted in a waterloo for many a veteran. Alemao has defeated Congress' senior minister and former Chief Minister Louisinho Faleiro.Congress' Francisco Sardinha, speaker of the assembly, and Wilfred D'Souza, deputy chief minister, both of whom are former Chief Ministers have also been humbled.Update at 1230 hrs: Counting of votes for the elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly is underway with reports of a neck-to-neck race coming in.According to the trends available so far, the Congress is leading in 13 seats followed by the BJP with 12 seats while Others are ahead in eight seats.Updated at 1100 hrs: The Congress-NCP seemed to be surging ahead of the BJP in 21 constituencies where results were declared in the 40-member Goa assembly today but was still short of the simple majority.Prominent winners were Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, GPCC president Ravi Naik, Power Minister Digambar and Agriculture Minister Francisco Pacheco of the NCP.The Congress-NCP combine won 12 seats while the BJP registerd wins in 6 seats. Trends so far indicated that Congress was leading in at least 14 seats as against the BJP's 5 seats.The surprise defeat was that of Speaker of the Goa Assembly Franciso Sardinha of the Congress, who was defeated by rebel candidate from Save Goa Front, Alexio Louraco in Curtorim constituency.Elections to the Goa Assembly were held on June 2.As in the past, independents and smaller parties may hold the sway in government formation, with rebel Congress leader Churchill Alemao's party - Save Goa Front - likely to hold the key.
