Goa government accords permanent cabinet minister status to former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the state cabinet has decided to give permanent status of cabinet minister to former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane. Rane is currently a Congress MLA representing Porim Assembly Constituency.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said that the cabinet has decided to accord permanent cabinet minister status to Rane, who is a former chief minister and former speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He said the decision to honor him was taken as Rane completed 50 years as an MLA in the Goa Legislative Assembly during the current tenure.

The Chief Minister further said that the State Cabinet has resolved that those who have completed 50 years as MLAs, and were former Chief Ministers or former Speakers, would be given such status in future. The 87-year-old MLA was the Chief Minister on four different occasions from 1987 to 2007. Rane’s son Vishwajeet, who is the state’s health minister, said on Twitter, “I am grateful to Hon’ble Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant and the entire cabinet for granting lifetime cabinet status to my father Shri Pratapsinh Raoji Rane. There can be no better way to honor his 50 years of public service as Chief Minister, Speaker and MLA.