PANJIM: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar accused former Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane of being a BJP spy in the Congress.
Speaking to Herald, Kavalekar said the party leadership was wary that someone was leaking out information about the party’s strategies to others. “There were several leaders who doubted him and now his actions have proved beyond doubt that he was the one doing it,” he stated.
He said that information and secrets of the CLP meetings were being leaked and one strategy after another was failing. “Our government was on the verge of being formed and we lost out. We were worried how is something being discussed between 17 people known to someone outside,” he added.
Kavalekar said the party is not dismayed on Vishwajit’s exit because it was due to him that the party lost the opportunity to form the government. He said the party salutes Pratapsingh Rane for his stand to join the CLP in unanimously passing a resolution for disqualification of Vishwajit.
Regarding rumours about senior Rane quitting the party, Kavalekar said, “He called me yesterday and told me that some rumours are making the rounds that he is resigning as MLA and has been offered a central ministership or Governor post. He categorically told me that he is not going to leave the Congress. He said his remaining life he will remain in the Congress.”
Taking a jibe at Vishwajit, Kavalekar said, “If he was not interested in thinking about the party, so be it. But he should have at least thought about the respect and dignity of his father who has been a strong Congressman.”
Asked about the party’s role in the by-elections to the Valpoi constituency, he said the party will leave no stone unturned to defeat Vishwajit. “We all 16 MLAs will campaign in Valpoi to defeat Vishwajit and we are confident that the seat will be retained by Congress,” he added.
Meanwhile, Savio Rodrigues, the Chairman of the Congress Minority Cell resigned on Friday.
