I do not have to campaign for Viswajit: Rane

Panaji, May 24: Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane today said he will not campaign for his son Viswajit who is contesting the June 2 Goa elections as an independent candidate from Valpoi.

''I do not have to campaign for him. Viswajit is capable of taking care of his seat,'' Mr Rane said while addressing a press conference here. The five-time Chief Minister, incidentally, is contesting from neighbouring Poriem for the sixth term since 1972.

In fact, Viswajit is going to campaign for others also, Mr Rane said but did not elaborate further. Viswajit had resigned the primary membership of the Congress and also the general secretary's post at the last moment to file nominations as an independent candidate.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Ravi Naik, who also addressed the mediapersons, did not reveal as to who the Congress would support in Valpoi where the party's nominee Laxman, a fruit plucker, withdrew at the last moment.

Interestingly, the Congress has announced its support to independent candidate Zuarkar in the Taleigao constituency against UGDP nominee and former minister Atanasio Monserrate who had also quit the Congress at the eleventh hour.

Mr Monserrate had resigned after the party refused ticket to his wife Jennifer to contest from neighbouring Santa Cruz constituency.

Mr Monserrate had earlier resigned as Town and Country Planning Minister following a public uproar against the controversial Regional Plan-2011 which he had reportedly authoured.

UNI

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