Goa: Congress's Chellakumar says Vishwajit Rane wanted to split BJP
What's the story
Congress's A Chellakumar has claimed that Goa BJP Minister Vishwajit Rane wanted to split the ruling saffron party in the state and join the main opposition party after the Lok Sabha polls due next year.
Chellakumar claimed that till two months back, Rane was in touch with him over the issue.
Rane, however, denied the claims.
Here are more details.
Information
Why did Chellakumar make such a statement?
Chellakumar's remarks came after two Goa Congress legislators, Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, left for Delhi late yesterday night amid speculations that they might join BJP. Rane, 45, also left for Delhi a little before the two. Sopte and Shirodkar reportedly joined BJP on Tuesday.
Details
Rane left Congress to join ruling BJP in Goa
Rane was elected on Congress's ticket from Valpoi constituency during the Assembly polls last year but within a few days, he resigned as MLA and also from the opposition party, and joined the ruling BJP.
"Many people from the ruling side were in touch with me. Our friend Vishwajit Rane used to call me often...he spoke to me two months back also," Chellakumar said.
Information
Rane would split BJP, come back to Congress: Chellakumar
Chellakumar claimed Rane used to say that he was a Congressman and would always remain so. He would "split the BJP" and come back to the Congress, Chellakumar claimed.
Counterattack
Rane says Chellakumar is a 'frustrated man'
Denying the claims, Rane said Chellakumar is a "frustrated man" because he is unable to keep his party men together.
"I have no communication with him (Chellakumar). They (Congress) had filed (disqualification) case against me even in the Supreme Court. I have no interest and I never contacted him, though he had tried to reach me," the BJP leader said.
Goa's politics
Goa is witnessing hectic political activity
Goa is witnessing hectic political activity against the backdrop of the ill-health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
He is currently being treated by doctors from state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital at his private residence at Dona Paula near Panaji.
In 40-member Goa Assembly, Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs.
Congress is the single largest party in Goa Assembly with 16 MLAs.