This group was led by the former Speaker of the Goa assembly, Haji Sheikh Hassan Haroon.
However, four of the MLAs quickly deserted Sheikh Hassan and joined the BJP, the dominant partner of the then ruling coalition, which came to power in Goa mainly by splitting up the Congress and other political parties.
[citation needed] In October 2002 INC(SH) was included in the Government of Goa.
Sheikh Hassan was appointed Minister of Industry and Handicraft and his party colleague Prakash Velip was appointed minister of cooperation, official languages, among other portfolios.
[citation needed] In the state elections 2002 Sheikh Hassan Haroon stood as a BJP candidate, and lost.