The last time Congress formed a government in Goa, the prophets of doom had to wait four years before going into action. This time, the rumour mills have begun to work overtime on day one itself. Just hours after Luizinho Faleiro was sworn in the Chief Minister, know-alls in Panaji began to predict how so-and-so supporters of Sharad Pawar's breakaway Nationalist Congress Party would topple the Government in no time. But the CM-elect knows now to play it safe.

Though top Congress leaders like Madhavrao Scindia and Manmohan Singh literally chose the Cabinet for him, Faleiro on his part rushed to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to get their portfolios cleared. By clearly painting possible rebels as opponents to 10 Janpath, the wily trade unionist-turned-politician is buying time for his one-MLA majority government.

Largesse for EC

The local press in Goa is going ga-ga over the profit raked in by the Election Commission after the Assembly polls in Goa. Of the 208 candidates whocontested the polls 116 of them lost their deposits. With each contestant required to part with Rs 5,000 per head, the EC is sitting on a cool Rs 6 lakh!

A Tame Tiger

The roar of the Shiv Sena's tiger couldn't venture far from Shivaji's fort at Sindhudurg. The party was so badly placed in Goa that Sainiks had to even bring in vehicles for electioneering from neighbouring Maharashtra. Their Chief Minister next door, Narayan Rane, was publicly rebuked by his own deputy, Gopinath Munde, for campaigning in Goa. Munde was of course right as all the 14 Sena candidates lost their deposits. This, despite whipping up some phobia against the Kashmiris living near Goa's beaches.

Tailpiece

Want to indulge in bogus voting? Learn the secret from some enterprising souls in Goa. One of them told this diarist how fevicol daubed generously over the index finger before voting could clear the indelible ink. Rub off the fevicol after casting your vote and voila...the indelible ink comes off with it!

--Shiv Kumar