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Live news updates: Industrialist Rahul Bajaj will be cremated in Pune with state honours, Election Commission eases rules for campaigning.
 "Live news: Jolt for BJP ahead of Bengal civic polls as 3 leaders rejoin TMC")
1 min read Last Updated : Feb 13 2022 | 9:01 PM IST
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6:43 PM
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said only the BJP-led alliance can secure Punjab and uproot drugs from the state, even as he made a sharp attack against Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Shah, in his first public rally for the February 20 state assembly polls, hit out at the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and accused Congress leaders of being involved in killing of Sikhs in Delhi.
He also raised the issue of religious conversion of Sikhs and Hindus in the state and lambasted the Channi-led government for 'failing' to check this practice.
Shah also recalled the sacrifices made by the people of Punjab during the freedom struggle and also praised the state for contributing immensely towards making the country self-sufficient in foodgrain production.
Addressing the rally, he said it is only the BJP-led alliance that can secure Punjab, while questioning the ability of rival parties to do so.
Hitting out at Channi, the Congress' chief ministerial candidate, Shah said, "Channi sahib you are dreaming of forming another government. A person who could not secure the route of the prime minister, can he secure Punjab?"
He was referring to a "major security lapse" on January 5 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stuck on a flyover in Punjab for 15-20 minutes due to a blockade by some protesters in Ferozepur and returned without attending an event at a martyrs' memorial.
"If you cannot provide security to the prime minister, then how can you secure Punjab? Channi ji, you do not have the right to run the administration for one second," Shah said.
6:34 PM
After a news channel aired a video claiming that one candidate of the TMC and three of the Congress have taken bribes to join the ruling BJP after the Goa Assembly polls, the AAP on Sunday said it is an "eye-opener" for the people of the coastal state and called upon them to vote for its candidates, saying they will not switch sides.
The 40-member Goa Assembly will go to polls on Monday.
Latching on to the news channel's claim, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Raghav Chadha said it has made it clear that the votes cast for the Congress will go to the BJP's kitty once again.
In 2017 also, "most of the Congress MLAs" had switched sides and joined the saffron party, he pointed out.
This comes a day after the channel broadcast a video claiming that one candidate of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and three of the Congress have taken bribes to switch their allegiance if they emerge victorious in the election.
"A news channel, carrying out a sting operation, has exposed how the Congress and the TMC candidates, ahead of the election, are taking money to switch over to the BJP. This sting operation is an eye-opener for you. See and think if your votes for the Congress are reaching the BJP," Chadha said in a video message.
"It is my request to all Goans, do not waste your votes. Your votes are invaluable. Your votes will decide the future of Goa. Vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. The Aam Aadmi Party MLAs will not go to the BJP fold. The Congress and TMC (MLAs) will go," he added.
Earlier in the day, both the TMC and the AAP lodged complaints against each over the sting operation video broadcast on the channel.
5:25 PM
Launching an attack on the Samajwadi Party, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said a true socialist is the one who takes every section of the society along and not those who indulge in politics of appeasement.
Those only speaking about 'Samajwad' (socialism) are 'khote sikke' (counterfeit coins) that cannot be used in the market, he said.
Addressing an election meeting in Ramnagar Assembly constituency here, Singh said the name Samajwadi Party' and its leaders did not go well together as merely having such a name does not make one Samajwadi.
Explaining socialism, the BJP senior leader said, A true Samajwadi is a person who takes everyone along. A person who indulges in politics of appeasement and attempts to form the government by dividing the society can never be a Samajwadi.
In an apparent reference to the SP leaders, Singh said, These people who are talking about Samajwad have turned into 'khote sikke' and you know khote sikke are not used in the market. Today's Samajwadi Party is not going to work in Uttar Pradesh politics.
Terming Barabanki a bastion of socialists, he said, When the Congress was ruling entire India, the people of this place stood with eminent socialists like Ram Sevak Yadav and Ram Manohar Lohia. But, ever since the fake 'Samajwadis' emerged in the state, people's myth was broken.
He said the BJP is a party that imbibed the original essence of socialism and stayed true to it.
5:22 PM
Despite widespread criticism over his controversial father-son remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday defended his comments and asserted that questioning the army personnel will "not be tolerated anymore".
In a series of tweets, Sarma posted several screenshots of news reports of the Congress' statements on the 2016 surgical strike and the appointment of Bipin Rawat as the army chief and the chief of defence staff among others.
"Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country.
"India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" he wrote on the microblogging site.
He also alleged that the Congress "spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat".
"From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such attitude won't be tolerated anymore," he said.
Gen. Rawat died in a chopper crash in December last year. He had served as the chief of the Indian Army from December 17, 2016, to December 31, 2019, and was appointed as India's first chief of defence staff in 2019.
During a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand, Sarma had on February 11 attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike.
He also asked whether the BJP had ever demanded proof of him being the "son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi".
This has led to a huge controversy with several opposition parties criticising Sarma for his "deplorable" statement.
5:22 PM
Despite widespread criticism over his controversial father-son remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday defended his comments and asserted that questioning the army personnel will "not be tolerated anymore".
In a series of tweets, Sarma posted several screenshots of news reports of the Congress' statements on the 2016 surgical strike and the appointment of Bipin Rawat as the army chief and the chief of defence staff among others.
"Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country.
"India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" he wrote on the microblogging site.
He also alleged that the Congress "spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat".
"From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such attitude won't be tolerated anymore," he said.
Gen. Rawat died in a chopper crash in December last year. He had served as the chief of the Indian Army from December 17, 2016, to December 31, 2019, and was appointed as India's first chief of defence staff in 2019.
During a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand, Sarma had on February 11 attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike.
He also asked whether the BJP had ever demanded proof of him being the "son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi".
This has led to a huge controversy with several opposition parties criticising Sarma for his "deplorable" statement.
5:06 PM
Three BJP leaders, who had withdrawn their nominations for polls to the Garulia Municipality in West Bengal, on Sunday made their way back to the Trinamool Congress, voicing grievance over the saffron party's style of functioning.
Polls to 108 municipalities, including Garulia, are scheduled to be held on February 27.
The three leaders - former MLA Sunil Singh, his son Aditya and Garulia Municipality's ex-chairperson Saurabh Singh - had withdrawn their nominations on Saturday.
The trio, relatives of BJP's Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh, rejoined the TMC at the Titagarh party office in the presence of West Bengal minister Jyotipriyo Mallick and Naihati MLA Partha Bhowmik.
They were fielded by the saffron party from ward numbers 12, 17 and 18 of Garulia Municipality.
We are unhappy with the way the North 24 Parganas unit of BJP is functioning. While the organisational base of the party is shrinking fast in the district, the number of self-styled leaders has increased. We don't want to be associated with such a party, Saurabh Singh told reporters.
"It was a mistake on our part to have left the TMC to join the BJP, added Sunil Singh.
BJP's Arjun Singh, who had quit the ruling party in 2019, however, deplored their move, calling them traitors.
5:00 PM
Social activist Anna Hazare has decided to suspend his proposed hunger strike from Monday against the Maharashtra government's decision permitting sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery shops, saying the state government has assured it will take into consideration the views of citizens before going ahead with the policy.
A 'gram sabha' was held on Sunday in Hazare's native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district.
"I told the villagers that now the state government has decided to put up the cabinet's decision before citizens for their suggestions and objections and only after their nod, a final decision will be taken by the government. Hence, I have decided to suspend tomorrow's hunger strike," Hazare later said.
Some days back, Hazare had written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying people of the state have demanded that the policy permitting sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops be called back immediately.
On Sunday, during the meeting held in his village, Hazare said there are plenty of beer bars, permit rooms and shops to sell wine, then why the government wants to sell it in supermarkets and grocery stores?
Does it want to spread addiction? he asked.
"During a discussion with officials of the Maharashtra government, I had told them that I don't feel like living in the state, following which the government started re-thinking about its decision," the activist claimed.
4:58 PM
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday lashed out at the Congress party for prioritising 'Gandhi parivaar' above those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
The Chief Minister highlighted that people should be loyal towards the country and not just a particular family.
"The Congress has developed an ecosystem and the people part of this ecosystem may tolerate things against India, but they will not tolerate anything against the Gandhis. Today, no one listens to them. People should be loyal to the country and not just a particular family," Sarma told ANI today.
His remarks came a day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda to sack Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his comments on the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning his parentage.
Addressing a public event, Rao had said, "PM Modi ji, is this the 'sanskaar' (etiquettes) or our Hindu ritual to question an MP about the identity of his father. This was done by your BJP Chief Minister. My head hangs in shame and my eyes are in tears after I heard this. This is not a good thing for the country."
"How can the Chief Minister of Assam talk like this? There is a limit to holding on to patience," he added.
4:55 PM
As part of its efforts to ensure nutrient-rich food, the government would start distribution of fortified rice through fair price shops all over the country by 2023, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey said here on Sunday.
The Minister said the fortified rice is already being distributed through Integrated Child Development Services and Mid-Day Meal scheme and that such rice would be made available at all ration shops.
"By 2023 we are going to supply fortified rice through fair price shops in all States," Choubey told reporters here.
Similarly, not only ration shops the fortified rice would be made available to public through markets in future, he said.
4:53 PM
Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau's former Mumbai zonal director, on Sunday appeared before a departmental vigilance panel here that is investigating allegations of extortion against the agency tea that conducted the drugs-on-cruise raid leading to the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and others.
Official sources said Wankhede presented his version and official documents related to the raid, which took place in October last year at the international cruise terminal in Mumbai, before NCB Deputy Director General (DDG) for the northern region Gyaneshwar Singh.
He and his team from NCB Mumbai had earlier too deposed before the vigilance panel and it is understood that the latest deposition is part of the process to conclude the inquiry following which a report will be submitted by the DDG to the NCB Director General.
Singh, a 1999-batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, is the chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the NCB and was tasked to conduct the probe after Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had filed an affidavit claiming that there was an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some NCB Mumbai officials and others for letting off Aryan Khan in the case.
Twenty people were arrested in this case and all of them are now out on bail, including Aryan Khan.
Sail had claimed that he overheard that Rs 8 crore 'bribe' out of this money was to be paid to Wankhede.
4:28 PM
After a Covid infection, it's long term effects including brain fog, joint pain, exercise intolerance and fatigue have been affecting the daily lives of millions.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, report the case of two middle-aged, healthy and active women who suffered from long Covid symptoms, and showed relief upto an year after taking the popular over-the-counter drug antihistamines, used to treat allergic rhinitis, common cold, influenza, and other allergies.
According to the report, published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, both women took over-the-counter antihistamines to treat other conditions -- the first one had triggered her dairy allergy by eating cheese, and the other had run out of the allergy medication she usually took -- and experienced improved cognition and much less fatigue the next morning.
The first woman's long Covid-19 symptoms also included exercise intolerance, chest pain, headaches, a rash and bruising, while the second coped with joint and abdominal pain, as well as the rashes and lesions known as "Covid-19 toes".
The findings may provide relief for the millions of people suffering from the painful, debilitating symptoms of long Covid that impair daily functioning.
The effects of Covid-19 on individuals range from mild symptoms to several weeks of illness to ailments including brain fog, joint pain, exercise intolerance and fatigue that last for months after the initial infection. There is currently no standard treatment for the condition, which may range from weeks to a year.
4:18 PM
An association of central excise and service tax officers has written to Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh seeking his intervention in ensuring timely promotions for them.
It highlighted the absence of a "protection clause", which safeguards the feeder cadre employees against increased residency period for promotion, in existing service rules.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in 2015 finalised the recruitment rules of executive assistants without taking comments of stakeholders, that is the employees concerned, the association said.
According to these recruitment rules, a tax assistant, who was getting his first promotion in three years, has to wait for 10 years for first promotion, said the letter by Chitrasain Garg, Secretary-General of All India Central Excise and Service Tax Ministerial Officers' Association.
The officials claimed the protection clause is missing in these recruitment rules and as a result they have to wait for ten years, instead of three, to get the promotions.
They said the CBIC has sent a file to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) multiple times but the same was not approved owing to different observations each time.
4:16 PM
A 25-year-old Maoist, who was allegedly involved in killing three villagers in separate incidents in Chhattisgarh, surrendered in Dantewada district of the state, a police official said on Sunday.
The Naxal, identified as Manglu Poyam, turned himself in before police here on Saturday, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Siddharth Tiwari said.
Poyam cited disillusionment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology as the reason for his surrender, he said.
He was active as a militia member of the Indravati area committee of the rebels.
He was involved in the killing of three villagers on the suspicion of being police informers in 2014-15, 2016 and 2019 in Bijapur district and one more Naxal incident, Tiwari said.
Following his surrender, Poyam will be rehabilitated as per the state government's policy, he added.
4:14 PM
Body painted in silver and dressed up as Mahatma Gandhi, this 27-year-old man, popular as Silver Gandhi, is drawing crowd while campaigning for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
Mohan Mahapatra, also known as Sai Ram Gandhi, has in the past travelled across seven states of India on foot spreading the message of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He has now arrived in Uttar Pradesh to ensure the victory of the BJP, he says.
The 27-year-old man from Odisha says he is rooting for the saffron party because he is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his ideology and his policies such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Mahapatra says he first set out on this journey in 2016 using the money his mother gave him after selling her earrings. He says he does not charge money from anyone and does it out of his own will.
He reached Lucknow, the state capital, on February 8 -- the day the BJP released its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh polls. After meeting Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders, he has actively been campaigning here and drawing crowds.
3:25 PM
The 70 assembly seats of Uttarakhand spread over 13 districts will go to the polls on Monday with over 81 lakh voters all set to decide the fate of 632 candidates, including 152 independents, in the fray.
Polling will begin at 8 am and conclude at 6 pm. Electioneering which was carried out aggressively by the political parties through virtual as well as physical rallies and door-to-door campaigns in the state came to an end on Saturday evening.
It will be the fifth assembly elections to be held in Uttarakhand after its creation in 2000.
Important candidates whose fate is to be decided in these polls include Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, his cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Subodh Uniyal, Arvind Pandey, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya besides state BJP president Madan Kaushik.
Prominent faces from the Congress in the fray include former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Yashpal Arya, state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the fourth assembly Pritam Singh.
3:20 PM
Goa will vote on Monday to decide the fate of 301 candidates who are in the fray for 40 Assembly seats, for which all preparations have been made.
Traditionally a state with bipolar politics, Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other smaller parties vying to make a mark on the state's electoral scene.
To check the spread of COVID-19, voters will be provided hand gloves at the polling stations, an election official said, adding that more than 100 'all-women' polling booths were set up in the state for the convenience of female voters.
As many as 81 flying squads were operational across the coastal state, he said.
The prominent candidates include Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP), Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat (Congress), former CMs Churchill Alemao (TMC), Ravi Naik (BJP), Laxmikant Parsekar (independent), former deputy CMs Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), late CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar and AAP's CM face Amit Paleker.
Over 11 lakh people are eligible to cast their votes on Monday. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Chief Electoral Officer Kunal said the average number of eligible voters per booth in the state is 672, which is the lowest in the country.
3:12 PM
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday paid tributes to Assistant Commandant Shanti Bhushan Tirki of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)'s 168 Battalion who lost his life in an encounter with Naxals.
Speaking to Media, the Chief Minister said Jharkhand has lost a brave son. The soldiers will give a befitting reply to Naxal outfits, he said.
"We have lost a brave son of Jharkhand today. He was deployed in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Our soldiers will give a befitting reply to Naxal outfits," Soren said.
The assistant commandant of the CRPF 168 battalion was killed in an encounter with Naxals in the jungle of Putkel in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, said Inspector General Bastar P Sundarraj on Saturday.
2:59 PM
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party has an edge over the ruling BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls currently underway.
Goa was facing a "khichdi" situation but the Congress has an advantage over the BJP, which has been in power in the neighbouring state since 2012, he added.
"Devendra Fadnavis (the BJP's Goa election in charge) is doing all he can to ensure BJP wins. Our best wishes since he is a Maharashtra leader. But he knows the current power in Goa is with the corrupt and mafia," Raut said.
He said Utpal Parrikar, son of former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, was getting a good response from the people of Panaji.
Utpal was denied a ticket by the BJP, which opted for sitting MLA Atanasio Monserrate, who crossed over from the Congress to the ruling party in 2019.
Raut also said Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray will campaign for Shiv Sena candidates in Uttar Pradesh, where the ruling BJP and the Samajwadi Party are the main contenders.
2:57 PM
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Sunday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka, saying that the controversy has been created deliberately, adding that the country needs to think about its priorities.
"Is Hijab really the priority of this country? Sticks are being used against the unemployed, unemployment is at its peak in five decades and in Hunger Index, we are at 101st position out of 116 countries. Where are we taking this country? This controversy has been created deliberately. We need to think about our priorities. We have been failing as a nation in many aspects. Everyone must be collectively concerned about these things," said Jha to ANI.
He said, "We should follow the Constitution in letter and spirit and Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) should be honoured. I have taught in universities and girl students used to wear hijab. and what should I do, throw them out? I can't."
Reacting to Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan's remarks that Hijab is not essential for Islam, he said that Khan has some compulsions and he needs to bat for his party.
Amid the ongoing hijab controversy, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday said that the hijab is not an essential part of Islam in the manner say a turban was to the Sikh religion and that controversy around it was part of a "conspiracy" to prevent Muslim girls from progressing.
2:56 PM
The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 24 crore for dredging in Gomati, a transboundary river between India and Bangladesh, and setting up 10 jetties for a waterway project, an official said here on Sunday.
Of the total 93-km proposed waterway from Sonamura in Tripura's Sepahijala district to Daudkandi in the neighbouring country, around 15.5-km stretch needs dredging to operationalise the route, he said.
The Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned Rs 24.53 crore to undertake dredging works in Gomati and construction of 10 floating jetties from Udaipur in Gomati district to Sonamura," state transport department principal secretary L Darlong said.
Only 1.5-km stretch in India and 14-km in the neighbouring country are proposed to be dredged to improve navigability in the transboundary river, he said.
The state government has already requested the Inland Waterways Authority of India to help the local administration for the strategic project.
"The Centre will take up the dredging issue with the Bangladesh government to commence such work on its part," he said.
A permanent jetty would come up near Srimantapur Land Customs Sation in Sonamura with an estimated cost of Rs 5.04 crore, the official said.
2:36 PM
From singing songs to frying "puris" and making emotional appeals, the candidates fielded by various political parties in the Uttar Pradesh polls are making every effort to woo the voters.
Unusual means of connecting with the electorate are also being adopted by ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government, who are doing their bit to reach out to the voters.
If senior minister Suresh Khanna is singing songs invoking patriotism in Shahjahanpur, another minister Brijesh Pathak is frying puris at a roadside kiosk.
The Congress nominee from the Mohammdabad Gohna seat in Mau, Banwari Lal, is making a desperate appeal to the voters to either give him votes or a "kafan" (shroud).
Seeking re-election from the Shahjahanpur seat for the ninth time, a video clip of Khanna singing a song at an election meeting went viral on social media platforms recently.
The BJP leader was heard singing his version of poet Pradeep's "hum layen hain toofan se kashti nikal ke, mere desh ko rakhna mere bachho sambhal ke", scripted for the 1954 film "Jagriti" and sung by Mohammed Rafi.
Khanna's lyrical appeal, in line with his party's campaign to keep Uttar Pradesh safe from the vices of crime, terrorism, casteism, regionalism and dynasticism is -- "is kshetra ko rakhna mere mitron sambhal ke, hum laye hai apradh se Uttar Pradesh nikaal ke...atankvad, kshetravad, jatiwad ko, humne kiya parast pariwarvad ko...behka na de vikas se koi dhoke me daal ke...is kshetra ko rakhna mere mitron sambhal ke. Tumhi bhavishya ho mere Uttar Pradesh vishal ke...."
Chairman of the Zila Sahkari Bank in Shahjahanpur and BJP leader DPS Rathore said Khanna had made such appearances on different party platforms earlier as well.
"The song that he is singing during campaigning is a patriotic song and he has only expressed his patriotism and concerns through it," Rathore said.
Law Minister Pathak caught eyeballs when he took to the busy streets of the state capital with his supporters for a door-to-door campaign and fried puris at a roadside kiosk in Narhi Bazar.
He also tried his hands at a sewing machine at the "Ladle Tailor" shop.
2:31 PM
It's a seat that veteran Goa politician and six-time chief minister Pratapsingh Rane represented for nearly five decades as a Congress MLA.
While the 83-year-old senior-most politician of Goa is not contesting the Assembly elections this time, the BJP has fielded his daughter-in-law Deviya Rane from Poriem.
The coastal state goes for voting on Monday.
Talking to PTI, Deviya Rane said it is historic that no legislator (in Goa) has won consecutively so many times from the same seat.
"It is a proud moment for me that I am carrying forward the legacy and hopefully, I will follow his (Pratapsingh Rane's) footsteps and strive to do whatever he has done selflessly and relentlessly for the people of Sattari and Goa," she said.
However, Pratapsingh Rane's retirement was not without controversy. He had announced that he would be contesting the Assembly polls on the Congress's ticket.
But, in December last year, his son Vishwajit Rane, who is in the BJP and currently the state's health minister, had reportedly asked his father to retire gracefully.
Vishwajit Rane had also said he would contest against his father from Poriem.
Pratapsingh Rane had first contested from the seat earlier known as Sattari in 1972. Since 1989, the seat has been known as Poriem.
Topics :Rahul BajajElection Commission of IndiaToday NewsLIC UP Assembly ElectionsCoal India Ltd
First Published: Feb 13 2022 | 6:36 AM IST
