Charm offensive: Goa BJP Government confers lifelong Cabinet status on Pratapsingh Rane
The Hindu
A ploy to stop Congress stalwart from contesting in the Assembly elections, say observers
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Goa has decided to grant “lifelong Cabinet status” on the coastal State’s senior-most legislator and sitting Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane for his services, said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a tweet.
“Our government has decided to grant lifelong Cabinet status to the senior-most legislator, Shri Pratapsingh Raneji, for his great service to the State of Goa. He has held the topmost positions as the Chief Minister and Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly,” tweeted Mr. Sawant.
Remarking that Mr. Rane would always be an inspiration to the people of Goa across all strata, Mr. Sawant said he “looked forward to his continued guidance as in working towards the welfare of the people and development of the State”.

When reporters brought to her notice the claim by villagers that the late maharaja of Mysore Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar had gifted the land to them, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said she is not aware of the matter, but sought to assure people that no effort will be made to take back the land that had been gifted by the late maharaja.