PANAJI: Former Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane, who joined the BJP on Thursday with a large number of his supporters, said that he would work to strengthen the party in Sattari taluka to make it sure that lotus blooms in both the constituencies of the taluka – Valpoi and Poriem.
Vishwajit Rane, who had resigned as a Congress MLA quitting that party as well on March 16, joined the BJP on Thursday, foundation day of the party, during a function held at BJP’s headquarters in Panaji.
Vishwajit Rane joined the BJP along with over 1000 supporters including former Congressmen, both zilla panchayat members, councillors of the Valpoi municipal council, sarpanchas and panch members of various panchayats.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar and others welcomed Vishwajit Rane and his supporters.
Stating that Vishwajit Rane quit the Congress as he had been fed up with internal bickering and differences in that party, Parrikar said the BJP has accommodated leaders from other parties to strengthen itself.
Addressing media persons after being inducted into the BJP, Rane said that he joined the saffron party after taking blessing of his father Pratapsing Rane, who is a Congress veteran.
Vishwajit Rane stated that his father has no objection to his entry into the BJP.
“In fact, I wanted to tie up with the BJP before the assembly elections,” Vishwajit Rane claimed.
When asked about various charges made against Vishwajit Rane, especially the way he ran the health ministry during the Congress regime, Parrikar clarified that it was not opposition to an individual but to the functioning and the policies of that party as regards the issues that arose at that point of time.
On the cabinet expansion, Parrikar said that he would decide on it after April 9 in consultation with BJP national president Amit Shah.
At this moment, chairmanship of various corporations are being decided, the Chief Minister added.
Parrikar said he respects the people’s mandate which had been fractured one.
“I think we were unable to push the concept of single party government. Since the mandate had been fractured we consulted other parties and formed the government,” he said.
On Congress’ announcement of filing a disqualification petition against Vishwajit Rane, Parrikar said that it should be filed against an existing MLA and not a former legislator.
“This shows that they (Congress leaders) do not have knowledge of laws,” the Chief Minister observed.
BJP MLA Glen Ticlo, party general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanawade and its Valpoi leader Satyavijay Naik were also present on the occasion.