MUMBAI: More Congress MLAs in Goa are likely to follow Vishwajit Rane, who left the party blaming leadership on Thursday, if sources are to be believed.
“This is not an unexpected development,” a senior Congress leader from Maharashtra told the Express, while reacting to Vishwajit’s resignation from membership of the legislature and the party.
“I have resigned as MLA. I have also resigned as a member of the Congress party. I am going back to my people for a fresh mandate,” Vishwajit had said after coming out of the Assembly even before the new Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar sought and won the trust vote in the house. “Congress has failed Goa,” he told the media.
However, speculations are that Vishwajit resigned to vacate seat for Parrikar and he might contest from his father Pratapsingh Rane’s seat on a BJP ticket. Pratapsingh Rane – who too is likely to resign soon - might be offered some plum post by the BJP, said a Congress leader in Mumbai on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Union minister and senior BJP leader in-charge of Goa Nitin Gadkari hinted at a press conference in Mumbai that a few more Congress MLAs might be on their way out from the party.
“Congress in Goa is riddled with several problems. I won’t be able to tell you everything. But, one has resigned today (Thursday). I heard that many more are in mood to follow him,” Gadkari said at the press conference.
“I heard the Congress had five CM candidates and they couldn’t decide their leader. Why should the party that failed even to chose its leader on time blame us,” Gadkari questioned while stating that the BJP did no wrong while forming the government in Goa.
“Stability and devotion towards development were two primary concerns of the people of Goa. BJP stands for both these things. Formation of government in Goa was all about communication and quick decision making. The majority has proved all allegations against us false,” Gadkari said adding that all the allegations leveled by the Congress leaders are indicative of their frustration.