PANJIM: Another delay by Congress has proved costly as it missed the opportunity to disqualify Vishwajit Rane. Had Congress acted quickly and filed a disqualification petition before the Speaker and, had Rane been proven guilty, the former Health Minister would not have been able to contest the polls for the next six years.
Congress on Thursday issued a whip to its MLAs to be present during the floor test and take part in the voting process. Rane, who skipped the floor test, had signed the whip.
“The Constitution, Article 191, makes grounds for disqualification of MLAs. If the sitting MLA defies the whip, he attracts disqualification and hence a disqualification petition has to be filed before the Speaker,” former Law Commissioner Ramakant Khalap said.
But in this case, before Congress could move a disqualification petition, Rane submitted his resignation to the protem speaker and escaped the legal sword of disqualification. This time too, the Congress delayed in taking the necessary steps at the right time.
“All 16 members of the CLP, including Rane’s father Pratapsingh Rane, had passed a resolution to disqualify the MLA. But there was a delay and Vishwajit, expecting the possibility, went and submitted his resignation and the same was accepted by the Speaker,” Khalap said. “Hence, legally he cannot be disqualified now,” he added.
As per the record, CLP commenced its meeting at 12.30 pm after losing the floor test and resolved to file a disqualification petition before the protem Speaker against Rane. The meeting lasted for one and half hour (2.00pm). However, CLP once again delayed and taking advantage of this Vishwajit Rane submitted his resignation at 2.55pm.
The question arises is what was the CLP doing from 2.00pm to 2.55pm.
When contacted CLP leader Chandrakant (babu) Kavalekar refused to comment on the resolution but said, “We were not expecting such an extreme step from Rane.”
