From King Maker to Key Spoiler: Vishwajeet Rane

If after the Alemao clan, the one politician who faced the wrath of the people and saw his highly ambitious political games fail is none other than Vishwajeet Rane. The king maker apparently is being considered in political circles locally and at the high command a being the key spoiler of the Congress chances in Goa because of his brazen demand for tickets to close associates without assessing ground realities and upsetting loyal Congress cadre members. This is despite the fact that he managed to secure his seat in Valpoi and that of his father Pratapsingh Rane who was being touted as the next Chief Minister of Goa in the pompous surety that Congress would win the election with a thumping majority.

Former sports minister and Congress candidate from Pernem constituency Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar, who lost to BJP’s Rajendra Arlekar squarely, blamed the Congress decision to give eight tickets to Rane for the party’s defeat. “The fact that Congress gave eight tickets to Vishwajit Rane has gone against the Congress in North Goa.” Of the eight tickets given to the Rane clan, only two-the father and son duo-could sail through in this assembly election, which saw a victory for the BJP-MGP alliance.

Congress candidate Pratap Gawas who lost to BJP candidate Pramod Sawant in Sanquelim by 6,918 votes said, “Vishwajit Rane couldn’t help me win.” He was first voted to power in the 2008 by-elections with Rane’s support.

Independent candidate from Bicholim Naresh Sawal, added “I thank Congress candidate Vishwajit Rane for my win. With the Congress denying me the Congress ticket, people realized the injustice that was done to me.”

Now, however, Junior Rane as he is known in the political circles is making a serious bid for the Leader of the Opposition position and is relying on the same two national leaders Goa Desk-in-Charge Jagmeet Singh Brar and General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy to help him sail through.