TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane will not contest the Assembly Elections, due in 2017, paving way to younger generation, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President John Fernandes told reporters on Saturday. The party has welcomed the decision.
“Rane has told me that he won’t be contesting assembly elections again. It is a good sign, a welcome sign as this will give others a chance to participate in the elections,” Fernandes said during a press briefing post-executive committee meeting at his party office. The senior congressman had also attended the meeting along with South MP Francisco Sardinha and other members including frontal organisations.
“I have always favoured infusion of young blood… It can be his son Vishwajeet Rane or any young leader… old leaders should retire from active politics paving way for younger generation,” Fernandes added.
The Poriem MLA is the seniormost politician in the State who dominated politics throughout the 1980s. He was the chief minister between 1979-1990 and 2005-2007. He is the first chief minister of Goa after it achieved statehood in 1987.
Meanwhile, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee has termed former deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar’s resignation as ‘unfortunate’. “It is unfortunate that he has chosen to leave Congress. We wish him all the best and also speedy recovery because I am told he is undergoing treatment for an ailment,” Fernandes said. The party, Fernandes, added will nonetheless remain intact.
Asked whether any attempts were made to convince him to remain in the party fold, Fernandes replied that Narvekar had met AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh earlier.
