PANAJI, June 29: Former member of the Lok Sabha and former president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Shantaram Naik was today elected president of the Goa Congress Committee.

Naik defeated the president of the dissolved body of State Congress Committee Nirmala Sawant by a margin of eight votes.

The election was postponed a fortnight ago in view of the complaint lodged by John Fernandes, member of the Rajya Sabha and one of the contestants in today's election, who did not turn up.

Naik polled 28 votes while Sawant polled 20. The attempt for a consensus by Sudha Joshi, returning officer and Surendra Singh Singhala, AICC observer, failed as the majority of voters insisted for a fair election to ensure the inner party democracy in Goa.

Hectic activity was witnessed in the Congress House and the hotel where both the Congress party observers stayed during the day.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.