Panaji: Goa Cabinet on Thursday decided to give permanent status of a cabinet minister to former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, chief minister Pramod Sawant said.
Rane is currently a Congress MLA representing Poriem Assembly segment.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that the cabinet has decided to give status of a permanent cabinet minister to Rane, who is a former chief minister and ex-speaker of Goa legislative Assembly.
Sawant said that the decision to accord him such an honour was taken as he has completed 50 years as a legislator in Goa Assembly during the current tenure.
The chief minister said the cabinet resolved that those who have completed 50 years as MLA, and who were former chief minister or former Speakers, would given such a status in future.
The 87-year-old MLA has been the chief minister of Goa for four terms from 1987 till 2007 on different occasions.
Rane’s son, Vishwajit, who is the Health Minister in Sawant-led cabinet, tweeted welcoming the decision.
Junior Rane said in a tweet “I am grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant and the entire cabinet for according a lifetime cabinet status to my father Shri Pratapsingh Raoji Rane. There is no greater way to honour his 50 years of public service as Chief Minister, Speaker and MLA.”
“This is a very special gesture, I thank Hon’ble CM @DrPramodPSawant for having conferred this recognition on my father. On behalf of the people of Sattari and Usgao, I express my gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the entire cabinet,” he said in another tweet.
