the goan I network
PANAJI
Stating that he has taken the blessings of his father Pratapsingh Rane before joining the BJP, former Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane formally joined the Party along with nearly a thousand of his supporters at BJP headquarters in Panaji.
He was formally welcomed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of State President Vinay Tendulkar, General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanawade, MLAs Michael Lobo and Glenn Ticlo, among others.
Responding to media queries if he has his father’s approval to join the BJP, Rane said, “I have taken his blessings and then only met the Chief Minister and joined the BJP. I have also informed him yesterday that today, me and all my supporters from Valpoi and Usgao will join BJP. He has absolutely no objection. He is my father and I have to take his blessings.”
Vowing to strengthen the BJP in Sattari taluka, he said, “We will work to strengthen the BJP in Sattari taluka and we will ensure that the lotus blooms in Sattari. That is the reason I joined the BJP, to strengthen the hands of the CM.
Continued on P8
Cabinet expansion after Shah’s visit: CM
PANAJI: The expansion of the State Cabinet will be held after BJP National President Amit Shah’s visit to the State on April 9. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “I will reply you on April 9, after Amit Shah’s visit. We have to at least consult the Party President if he is coming all the way.” Parrikar also informed that presently the allocation of various corporations is being finalised. “At this moment, we are finalising on corporations for various MLAs based on their need and liking. There will not be two corporations with one MLA”, he said. Lamenting on BJP’s performance during Assembly elections, he said, “I respect people’s mandate. It was a fractured mandate. Probably we failed to make them understand that they have to vote for a political setup in the State unlike in panchayats. While they said that BJP provided a good government, there were some issues at the local level which impacted. I think we were not able to push the concept of one party government.”
