In recent years Goa has become a laboratory for political experiments. Goa should take the lead and hold an all party meet to decide on the retirement age for politicians.
Having completed 70, Mr. Pratapsingh Rane could take the lead and gracefully retire from politics. By now he should have groomed a Satari youth, preferably from the Bahujan Samaj, to be his successor. His controversial son is a bigger threat to the well being of Goa than the damage done to Goa by the Senior Rane over the last few years. Pratapsingh Rane's initial innings as Law Minister under Goa's first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar in 1972, was commendable, a post in which he continued under Goa's second Chief Minister, Mrs. Shashikala Kakodkar. Pratapsingh Rane's first stint as Chief Minister was also good. He even drove his own Fiat car to attend private functions. Today the extraordinary police cover he enjoys and which is being misused by his son is absolute abuse and arrogance that creeps into politicians who remain in power for too long. A very astute politician Pratapsingh Rane has always been able to grab a Chair as a compromise candidate. During his last term as Chief Minister, the now revoked Regional Plan 2011 was sought to be imposed upon unwilling Goans, together with his proposal for six SEZ's in Goa. That his son Vishwajit was one of the architects of that plan and who is now opposed to RP2021 for not having his way in selling and concretizing Goa, is public knowledge. It is no secret that in recent years his very ambitious son Vishwajit was in fact the defacto Chief Minister and was calling the shots while the senior Rane snoozed in the Chair. Over the last 37 years the Pratapsingh Rane household has had the best of times. Power has never eluded them. From Bal Bhavan to Kala Academy they never lost grip of it all. Even as Leader of Opposition, Rane managed to garner for his son the plum post as Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation, a position he blatantly misused and was ordered by the Bombay High Court to restitute the Corporation the financial burden he had inflicted. The Ranes have made no sacrifices. On the contrary they have shrewdly maneuvered their way around the political game board. At the last assembly elections Vishwajit Rane, in order to circumvent the restriction on two tickets per family, had fielded his coconut plucker as Congress candidate in Valpoi, only to file his nomination as an Independent candidate at the last minute. Pratapsingh Rane has not been able to stay aloof from power. After being Chief Minister he has stooped to accept the Speaker's position and would surprise no one by even accepting a cabinet berth. He may still have dreams of making it to the Lok Sabha or the Governor's palace. But the time has come to put Mr. Pratapsingh Raoji Rane to pasture. Aires Rodrigues Ribandar
