the goan I network
PANAJI
The special executive committee meeting of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee convened on Thursday took an embarrassing turn for senior Congressman and Poriem MLA Pratapsing Raoji Rane, who was left red-faced after he was confronted over his failure to take a strong stand over the arrests at Sonshi in his constituency.
Sources from the party disclosed that the senior Rane arrived at the meeting venue and walked up to Congress spokesperson and Seva Dal organizer Swati Kerkar and demanded to know why she paid a visit to Sonshi village, which is located in his constituency, on Tuesday.
While Kerkar remained silent, another Congressman stood up and shouted down the Poriem MLA over his failure to perform his duty towards his aggrieved constituents. When contacted, Kerkar refused to comment while maintaining that Rane was a senior member of the party.
In another blow to the Rane family, the Congress state executive resolved to file four disqualification petitions against former Congress Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane for defying the party whip and for failing to vote on the motion of confidence after the formation of the new government.
Vishwajit has since joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and is presently the minister for health. He will contest the Valpoi by polls on BJP ticket.
Speaking to the media, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro stated, “A resolution was passed at the state executive committee meeting as per the recommendation of the CLP to file four disqualification petitions against Vishwajit. One will be filed by CLP leader, the second will be filed jointly by all MLAs, the third will be filed on behalf of the party and the fourth on behalf of the All India Congress Committee.”
The Congress executive also resolved to make a representation before Staff Election Commission over the ad-hoc manner in which the govt has declared the date for panchayat polls.
It was further decided that all MLAs and even the defeated candidates will be consulted to ensure backing to good candidates in the polls though the elections will not be held along party lines.
Faleiro also stated that the membership drive of the party will conclude on May 15 following which time will be given for appeals and then elections from booth, block, district, PCC and AICC level will be organised.
