Team Herald
PANJIM: Sattari’s Poriem constituency is prepping up for an interesting political contest that could see the Ranes – father and son – pitted against each other.
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Goa’s seniormost lawmaker Pratapsingh Rane on Tuesday laid to rest speculation over his exit from politics announcing he would contest the 2022 elections from his traditional Poriem Assembly constituency on a Congress ticket. In making the announcement he ignited a new battle, as his son Vishwajit, incumbent Minister in BJP-led government, declared he would contest against his father on saffron party ticket in the ensuing polls. The younger Rane also suggested that his father should “gracefully” quit politics as he completes 50 years as a legislator.
These announcements prepare the ground for father and son to contest against each other, which if happens, will be for the first time in the history of State politics.
This will be Pratapsingh’s 12th consecutive election since 1972. If elected he will complete 50 years as a legislator on March 24, 2022.
Addressing media persons at his Kulan-Sankhalim residence, senior Rane said that the Poriem Congress block committee and his well wishers have decided that he should file his nomination for the upcoming election and that he has accepted their decision.
“As respect to their love and sentiments, yes I will contest the election from Poriem on a Congress ticket,” he said, adding, “I am sitting Congress MLA and associated with party for long.” Block members had visited his residence on Tuesday.
He also said that he will start holding corner meetings and a public meeting, if required, will also be called.
Upset with his father’s declaration, Vishwajit suggested that his father should gracefully quit politics after 50 years in public service rather than facing defeat in the battlefield.
Speaking to the media, Vishwajit said that he has personally informed the BJP State president that he would contest the 2022 election from Poriem. “And I am going to contest,” he said.
“My father will also have to think. At 83, why does he have to continue in politics? One should gracefully retire after becoming a CM for more than nine terms. A person who is my idol and someone I have so much respect for, that person should gracefully retire, not retire in the battlefield. After so many years in politics, a decision should be made according to age,” Vishjwajit said.
“I have been ensuring my father’s victory from Poriem for the last 20 years. My father is currently under pressure from the Congress high command. I would request my father to resign gracefully, before facing defeat,” he added.
“I will win that seat with a margin of 10,000 votes,” he commented.
The Minister also said that the issue being within the family, it will be resolved “amicably”. “Pratapsingh Rane is my father and we shall sort this issue amicably,” he tweeted.
Jr Rane had quit the Congress in 2017 after the party failed to form the government despite emerging as the single-largest party in the 40-member Assembly with 17 MLAs. Apart from being Goa’s longest-serving MLA, senior Rane also holds a record for having served as chief minister of the State for a little less than 16 years across six terms between 1980 and 2007.
Despite representing the constituency for five decades, Pratapsingh said that there is lot more development works to be done in the constituency. “The unemployment rate is very high in my Poriem constituency. Now I will get eco-friendly industries in my constituency to solve the unemployment problem youths, Rane said.
Political observers across Cong and BJP are wondering if this could also be a family understanding where by the benovalent father would allow his son, his political opponent to win
