BJP’s bid to stop the 11-time MLA from re-contesting the Poriem Assembly seat, say observers
@the_news_21
Mumbai: Indulging in a bit of flattery, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Goa on Thursday decided to grant a ‘lifelong cabinet status’ to its senior-most legislator and sitting Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane for the services he has rendered.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the decision in a tweet.
“Our government has decided to grant lifelong Cabinet status to the senior most legislator, Shri Pratapsingh Rane ji, for his great service to the State of Goa. He has held the topmost positions in the state as the Chief Minister and Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly,” tweeted Sawant.
Stating that Rane would always be an inspiration to the people of Goa across all sections of the society, Sawant said he “looked forward to his continued guidance in working towards the welfare of the people and development of the State.”
The BJP’s ‘charm offensive’ ahead of the Assembly election is being seen by political observers as a move to keep the stalwart Congressman and 11-time MLA from contesting the Poriem Assembly seat (in North Goa) and sow confusion within ranks of the battered Goa Congress which has currently just two MLAs – Rane and ex-Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s announcement comes days after Rane hinted at ‘retiring’ from active politics at a function to mark the Congress’ Foundation Day last month, while stressing the need for the youth to take the party forward in the poll-bound coastal state.
The Congress’ decision to field the stalwart Rane – who has been Goa’s longest serving Chief Minister – came after his son, BJP leader and Goa Health Minister Viswajit Rane had said he would contest against his father and defeat him by a wide margin.
However, after the Congress’ central election committee (CEC) had approved of the senior Rane’s candidature on December 22, but the senior Rane denied that the Congress CEC had finalised his nomination.
According to sources, the 82-year-old Rane, who has kept away from active politics for a while now, has been reluctant to contest the polls this time.
Last month, Viswajit Rane had brusquely exhorted his father to “gracefully retire” from the political arena, while claiming that the octogenarian Congressman had “lost connect” with the younger voters.
Rane junior expressed confidence of winning the Poriem seat by a margin of at least 10,000 votes, claiming that his father had been ‘pressurized’ into contesting by the Congress high command.
Following Sawant’s announcement of the BJP government deciding to grant a lifelong cabinet status to his father, Viswajit Rane said: “This is a very special gesture. I thank the Chief Minister for having conferred this recognition on my father. On behalf of the people of Sattari and Usgao, I express my gratitude to him and the entire cabinet. There is no greater way to honour his (Pratapsingh Rane) 50 years of public service as Chief Minister, Speaker, and MLA.”
