PANAJI
Former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday lost his cool while responding to questions from the media vis-a-vis the ongoing suspense related to who will occupy the chief minister's chair in the coming days.
It has been a week since the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 20 seats, just one seat short of a numerical majority in the February 14 polls, but the BJP has been playing its cards close to the chest over its choice of chief minister for the upcoming five years.
While Sawant, who led the party to its best-ever electoral tally of 20 seats without the benefit of a coalition ally, was tipped to be Chief Minister this time around too. A few recent developments have also put the spotlight on Rane, with political speculation suggesting that the Maratha from Sattari was keen on taking on the Maratha from Bicholim over the bid for the top political slot.
When Rane was asked by media persons in Panaji to comment on the speculation related to the race for the chief minister's chair, the Valpoi MLA snapped.
"Do not ask me 'faltu' questions. The media's job is to create a sensation," Rane said on the sidelines of an event organised to pay homage to former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar on the occasion of his death anniversary.
Rane said such questions should be directed at the BJP's central leadership.
"I have come to offer condolences to my leader. You ask these questions to the central leadership," Rane said.
Rane had rubbished media reports attributing political motives to his unexpected meeting with Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai last week, preferring to describe his visit to the Raj Bhavan as a courtesy call.
A few days later, his wife and newly-elected Poriem MLA Deviya Rane's comments on the issue of chief ministership had also stirred the political pot.
"Of course, any elected representative can be ready and he is a very experienced politician for the last 15 years. But the final decision is of the central committee," Deviya Rane told reporters when asked if her husband was ready to occupy the top political slot.
Minutes later Rane had brushed aside his wife's comments, saying "(It is the) concerned MLA's view. Not my view".
