Goa: Vishwajit Rane quits Congress, says party leadership at fault

Vishwajit Rane had earlier stated that there were more disillusioned MLAs in the Congress Party and they could resign as well.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: March 17, 2017 11:16 AM IST

3 min read

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Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane on Thursday resigned from the party as well as an MLA saying the top leadership failed in forming government when the party was clearly in a position to do so post the Goa Assembly election result. The Congress won 17 of the 40 assembly seats and emerged as the single largest party.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Rane said: “the moment Digvijaya Singh said I was seen meeting Parrikar, I took a decision to abstain. That was a huge statement to make. We have worked hard to reach here and such statements cannot be tolerated.”

Rane submitted his resignation to pro-tem speaker Siddharth Kuncalienkar, and he will contest once again from Valpoi. “I’m fed up of this party. No decision yet on which platform I’ll contest from. I’m going back to my people to ask them.” Rane added that the Congress leadership’s handling of affairs has led the party to this condition. “I do not expect anything from the Congress. They have destroyed the trust of the people of Goa,” he said.

Rane had earlier stated that there were more disillusioned MLAs in the party and they could resign as well. He however did not reveal who. Several MLAs have voiced their anger against the leadership – specially Congress in-charge Digvijaya Singh – for failing to form a coalition with like-minded parties and come to power. “Leaders like me will start leaving Congress all over country because people who come as observers are unable to assess situation.”

At the floor test conducted in the Goa Assembly today, which Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar won, Vishwajit Rane was not present. He left the floor after being administered oath by the pro-tem speaker. The Congress strength was thereby reduced to 16 in the House.

On his letter to Rahul Gandhi, Rane said: “I have not got any reply from him (Rahul Gandhi), have no hopes for the same. Don’t want to comment on him.” Rane won the election from Valpoi with 13,493 votes. His closest competitor was Satyavijay Naik of the BJP with 7815 votes.