PANJIM: Congress’ Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday took a sought
of U-turn on his statements of demanding five constituencies in Bicholim and
Sattari talukas saying it was ‘misrepresented’ by the media. Addressing a
hurriedly called press conference, Junior Rane also denied that he had demanded
that his father be made the chief minister candidate.
“I am shocked at the controversy created of my reported statements of
demanding party tickets for Sanquelim, Poriem, Bicholim, Mayem and Valpoi. Let
me clarify I have never said I want five seats, it is stupidity and I was
misrepresented,” he said.
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Further, he clarified, “I went to Pravin Zantye’s meeting wherein one
PCC member said that Zantye’s name has not been recommended by the block, which
provoked me to make a statement.”
He said that during his speech he made it clear about having total
faith in party President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Digvijay Singh. “Giving
tickets is the role of the Congress parliamentary board in Delhi headed by
Sonia Gandhi and secretary Digvijay Singh, so let them all decide,” he said.
Speaking further on the five constituencies Vishwajit said, he can
talk on them as he has worked there. “I have worked and done a lot of
development there. All the development work in these constituencies was done
under the leadership of Pratapsingh Rane, Digambar Kamat and me as health
minister,” he said.
Junior Rane wondered aloud that if he has the influence over the
constituencies why not use it for the benefit of the party. “It is immature on
the part of the three block members to complain against me,” he said adding,
“But now I am told that the three were instigated by Sunil Kawthankar to make
such statements.”
During the 20 minutes the press conference lasted, Vishwajit stated at
least ten times that he is defying the Congress. “I am not here to defy the
Congress party but to strengthen the Congress. I am here to see that the BJP is
ousted from power. Unnecessarily today I see my name in a very negative sense.
I also saw some colleagues of mine making some statements I don’t want to react
on them,” he said referring to statements made by Madkaikar and Kavlekar in
Herald.
“Somebody said ask for all 40 seats I don’t need anybody’s advice. I
am a loyal soldier of the party and will fall in line with whatever decision
the Congress takes hopefully my views would be heard at the highest level,” he
stated.
However, he said, “Even though the party does not like it, I have made
statements that I will support Naresh Sawal. Who knows how the political
dynamics and combinations will go? Tomorrow what happens who knows, but right
now my frame of mind is to work for Congress.”
He also clarified that he has no grudge against party president Luizinho
Faleiro. “I have nothing against anybody but my mood is to work against BJP. Unless
Congress doesn’t want me in the party I will be fighting for the party against
BJP in those five constituencies,” he said.
On statements by Faleiro that he does not take Vishwajit seriously, he
said, “It is not about whether Faliero wants to take seriously or not as even I
don’t take his statements very seriously.”
On a statement that his father should be made the chief minister, he
replied, “I never said Pratapsingh Rane should be made Chief Minister, I have
said people of Sattari taluka will always feel he should be the CM. It is the
feeling of people of Sattari.”
About rumours of him contesting on Sattari Yuva Morcha, he said,
“Sattari Yuva morcha is just an internal feeling as of now.”
