Team Herald
PANJIM: Former Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane will join the BJP on Thursday, ahead of the party National President Amit Shah’s mega rally at Campal, on Sunday.
Speculation of his entry into the party was on since he quit as MLA and from the Congress protesting the party’s failure to stake claim to form the government despite being the single largest party in the 2017 elections.
“He (Rane) is joining the party tomorrow (Thursday). He volunteered to join the party without any conditions,” BJP State unit President Vinay Tendulkar said. He will be welcomed into the party by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other senior leaders.
Tendulkar, however, refused to disclose whether Rane will be inducted into the cabinet. The BJP legislature wing had earlier this week unanimously resolved to include Rane in the party and also give him a cabinet post. Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo had confirmed the development.
The party also brushed aside speculation that some BJP MLAs had put a condition that Rane should get a cabinet berth only if he joins the party. “Some MLAs wanted that Rane be allotted a cabinet berth only if he joins the party. Let him re-contest during the by-polls on a BJP ticket,” a party official said.
Tendulkar, however, denied such a suggestion being made during the legislature wing meeting stating, “Rane volunteered to join BJP. There was no pressure from any BJP MLA.”
