PANJIM: The BJP government on Thursday took the unprecedented and unheard-of step to a “life-long” cabinet status to veteran Congressman, Pratap Singh Rane, the father of its health minister Vishwajit Rane.
With no precedence or norm for a decision which will mean the state exchequer will have to pay for salaries and perks equal to a cabinet minister as long as Mr Rane lives irrespective of whether he is an MLA or a minister, a privilege ruling parties don’t accord even to their own senor members. For instance LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi the senior most BJP leaders do not have the privilege of cabinet status
Announcing this on his twitter handle, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Our government has decided to grant lifelong Cabinet status to the senior most legislator Pratapsingh Rane ji, for his great service to the State of Goa. He has held the topmost positions in the state as the Chief Minister and Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly.”
Sawant added, “He will always be an inspiration to the people of Goa across strata. I look forward to his continued guidance as we work towards the welfare of the people and development of the State. I congratulate him and wish him all the very best in all his future endeavors.”
Reacting to the decision of the government, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “I am grateful to the Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant and the entire cabinet for according a lifetime cabinet status to my father Pratapsingh Raoji Rane. There is no greater way to honour his 50 years of public service as Chief Minister, Speaker, and MLA. This is a very special gesture, I thank CM @DrPramodPSawant for having conferred this recognition on my father. On behalf of the people of Sattari and Usgao, I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister and the entire cabinet.”
Political observers are left wondering if there’s a hidden political agenda behind this. It is only recently that Senior Rane had announced that he wished to contest the Assembly elections from his bastion Poriem, At that time son Vishwajit had advised him to take retirement considering his age. Subsequently the Congress announced Senior Rane’s name as the party candidate form Poriem
Now after being bestowed this honour by a rival parity’s government, of which his son is a part of, local sources mentioned the likelihood of veteran Rane stepping back and easing himself out of the electoral contest, knowing that his Cabinet status and privileges will be intact
The Cabinet status will give Pratap Singh Rane all privileges enjoyed by a Cabinet Minister including staff and other allowances and perks.
The 83-year-old legislator has been in active politics for the past 50 years and has been elected MLA 11 times since 1972.
