Sources in the Congress say party president Sonia Gandhi did not permit the chief minister to expand his Cabinet beyond seven ministers -- which was the figure orginally promised by the party in its election manifesto. There are now five ministers in addition to the chief minister.

Apart from several former ministers who were denied Cabinet berths as a result of the restrictions, the Chief Minister has to accommodate two legislators from the United Goans Democratic Party which merged with the Congress and the four-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which is a coalition partner of the ruling party.

Sawant, who is considered a lightweight in the party, was orginally accommodated in the Cabinet for her loyalty to the party. Unlike other ministers, the Power Minister stuck with the party through defections and splits evenwhen she was denied a ticket to contest the Assembly polls in 1994. However, with several of Faleiro's colleagues threatening to severely damage the Congress' prospects during the Lok Sabha polls, he has chosen what is politically expedient to him.

With breakaway Congress leader Wilfred D'Souza tantalisingly beckoning disgruntled Congressmen to the Nationalist Congress Party, Faleiro has quite a task at hand to satisfy all the faction leaders of the party.

On her part, the Power Minister ruffled several feathers when she ordered a crackdown on industrial units owned by influential persons who stole electricity for years without hindrance. Also, on more than one occasion, Sawant publicly criticised the Chief Minister for not investing enough in terms of manpower and funds in the Electricity Department, which is in the red.

However, Sawant, who left for Delhi on Monday to confer with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a bid to stay on in the Cabinet, has the image of a clean politician in her favour.Already, the Congress party committees of the Cumbarjua and Priol assembly segments have adopted resolutions demanding that Sawant be retained in the Cabinet. The more vocal of her supporters told mediapersons that Sawant's supporters may work for the Nationalist Congress Party candidate in the forthcoming polls if she was dropped from the Cabinet.

BJP accuses CM of influencing polls

Goa's leader of the Opposition, Manohar Parrikar, has accused Chief Minister Faleiro of trying to influence the Lok Sabha polls by arm-twisting the bureaucracy. Reacting to the recent decision by the CM to take over the powers of the chief secretary, Parrikar noted that even the Chief Election Officer of the State will now directly report to Faleiro. "Since the chief minister will be responsible for writing the confidential report of the Chief Election Officer, we don't think the elections will be free and fair," Parrikar said.

A circular issued by the Government empowering the Chief Minister to take over theresponsibilities of the chief secretary caused a storm last week with politicians and bureaucrats opposing the move. Goa's Governor, Lieutenant General (retired) J F R Jacob is now in New Delhi to confer with officials of the Home Ministry in the matter.