PANJIM: Former Minister and Porvorim Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte resigned as a legislator on Wednesday. Khaunte submitted his resignation to Goa Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar.
Khaunte later told reporters that he will announce his future plan of action within next two days. He is likely to join the Cabinet Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“I have sought with all my energy and determination to serve all the people of the State of Goa including the people of Porvorim constituency. Throughout that time, I have worked tirelessly to build a better future for the people of Goa. I am resigning as MLA in the larger interest of the people of my constituency and the State of Goa,” Khaunte said in his letter submitted to the Speaker.
“I don’t want to be part of anything that treats Goans like toy. I will not allow Goans to be a toy,” he said indirectly referring to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s tweet “Khela Hobe.”.
On Sunday, Khaunte had hinted that he may join any political party and take a decision in this regard within a week.
Khaunte was first elected as MLA from the newly created Porvorim constituency in 2012 polls and retained it in 2017. He is also the first legislator to win Assembly elections for consecutive term as an independent.
Khaunte also served as Cabinet Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by late Manohar Parrikar and Pramod Sawant government. In fact he had helped the BJP form government post 2017 Assembly elections following a fractured mandate.
With his resignation, the strength of the 40-Member Assembly has been truncated to 36. Assembly elections in Goa are scheduled early February next year.
