Even my father has been supporting Shripad Naik: Vishwajit Rane

VALPOI/PANAJI: Health minister

Vishwajit Rane

stated on Monday that his father and Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane has been supporting North Goa MP and BJP’s

Lok Sabha

candidate Shripad Naik over the last many years, a claim that has been rejected by the veteran Congress functionary.

Vishwajit, along with Naik, held corner meetings in Valpoi town and a few villages in

Sattari

taluka on Monday. “Even my father has been supporting Naik over the last many years. At a recent function in Sattari, my father had praised Naik and his work. He had told the gathering that a person should be like Shripad Naik,” Vishwajit said.

When contacted, former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane rubbished his son’s statement saying that he has never supported Naik’s candidature. “Sometime ago, he (Naik) came to inaugurate a project under MPLAD in my constituency (Poriem) where I appreciated the work done. Anyone in my place would say that. What is wrong in that?” he told TOI.

The senior Congress functionary said his statement at the function was misinterpreted. “Goa is a small state. People know me well. I’ve never said Naik should be elected,” he said.

When pointed out that the statement was made by none other than his son, Pratapsingh, replied, “You know what is his (Vishwajit’s) party. I will be campaigning for Congress in my (Poriem) constituency.”

Addressing a corner meeting in Sattari on Monday, Vishwajit said that “only Naik will get votes in each and every booth in Sattari taluka”. “He will get a lead of 20,000-25,000 votes in Sattari taluka and my people and I will work for it,” he said.

Statistics of Lok Sabha polls show that in 2009, Congress took leads in both Poriem and Valpoi when Jitendra Deshprabhu contested, while in 2014, when the Modi wave was sweeping the country, the Ranes didn’t allow the BJP to take huge leads in the two assembly segments.