PANJIM, JULY 2
With the Group of Seven (G7) no more existent, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane who recently resigned from his Assembly seat to join Congress has said that his party will go on its own in Valpoi by-elections without expecting support from alliance partners.
Rane was a key member of G7, with Babush Monseratte, MGP legislators Sudin and Dipak Dhavalikar besides three NCP legislators Jose Philip D’Souza, Mickky Pacheco and Nilkanth Halarnkar being the other members.
However due to indifferences within themselves the group seems to be no more existent with all partners choosing their own way.
Sources said that the NCP and the MGP were planning to field their own candidate in the Valpoi by-elections.
Rane, who had won as independent candidate in 2007 elections, joined Congress last week, said that MGP and NCP is free to put up their own candidates for Valpoi by-elections.
“Anybody is free to put up their own candidate. I am not bothered,” Rane told reporters.
Even as Election Commission is yet to announce the date for by-election, Congress party on Friday admitted BJP’s former candidate from this constituency, Putu Gaonkar, in the party fold.
When asked whether he wants to get elected unopposed, Rane said that he is not concerned about which candidate BJP or any other party fields.
“I have done enough for the constituency. I will get elected on development agenda,” he said.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subash Shirodkar and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat were also present at the Congress House during Gaonkar’s entry into Congress.
