Margao: A day after Congress flagged off the candidature of its 83-year-old MLA Pratap Singh Rane A senior Congress leader on Friday denied that the party has finalized his nomination to contest from Porim in the upcoming assembly polls.
Rane told Times of India, ‘No, Congress has not finalized my ticket. I have not been informed about this by the party. Rane’s statement is seen as a sign that he is of two minds about contesting for another term.
A day after the Congress officially announced Rane’s candidature, his son, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, said he would contest against and defeat his father, seemingly versus a high-profile father in Porim. The stage was set for the son competition.
Senior Rane’s changed stand has taken the Congress leadership by surprise, which is keeping a close watch on the activities of Porim and Junior Rane. Though Congress sources were hopeful that Rane would contest on senior Congress ticket, the leadership is exploring alternatives if he refuses to contest due to pressure from his family.
Rane, who completed 50 years as an MLA, has never lost an election from Porim – where he has won since 1989, the first election after Goa got statehood.
He is now facing a challenge from his son Vishwajeet, who represents the Valpoi constituency.
Rane senior is believed to be initially not keen on contesting the 2022 elections, but changed his mind after his supporters insisted on him contesting. Announcing his decision to contest, he had said two days ago, “I want to listen to my supporters.”
In September, BJP’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis along with BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanawade visited Rane Sr at his residence. While Rane dismissed the visit as a courtesy call, Fadnavis had said that his party has received the blessings of the veteran politician.
Rane told Times of India, ‘No, Congress has not finalized my ticket. I have not been informed about this by the party. Rane’s statement is seen as a sign that he is of two minds about contesting for another term.
A day after the Congress officially announced Rane’s candidature, his son, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, said he would contest against and defeat his father, seemingly versus a high-profile father in Porim. The stage was set for the son competition.
Senior Rane’s changed stand has taken the Congress leadership by surprise, which is keeping a close watch on the activities of Porim and Junior Rane. Though Congress sources were hopeful that Rane would contest on senior Congress ticket, the leadership is exploring alternatives if he refuses to contest due to pressure from his family.
Rane, who completed 50 years as an MLA, has never lost an election from Porim – where he has won since 1989, the first election after Goa got statehood.
He is now facing a challenge from his son Vishwajeet, who represents the Valpoi constituency.
Rane senior is believed to be initially not keen on contesting the 2022 elections, but changed his mind after his supporters insisted on him contesting. Announcing his decision to contest, he had said two days ago, “I want to listen to my supporters.”
In September, BJP’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis along with BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanawade visited Rane Sr at his residence. While Rane dismissed the visit as a courtesy call, Fadnavis had said that his party has received the blessings of the veteran politician.
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