Valpoi (Goa): Ahead of forthcoming by-elections for Valpoi assembly seat, the Congress party has re-constituted it block committee there under the presidentship of Ashish Kanekar, who contested the 2017 assembly elections on AAP ticket against then Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane.

In an order issued on May 2, party president Luizinho Faleiro has reconstituted 105 member Valpoi block congress committee headed by Kanekar.

Kanekar, who lost the 2017 election against Rane, joined Congress in April and is likely to be party’s face for by-elections, which are likely to take place within five months.

Congress has a strong base in Valpoi and is gearing up to defeat Rane in the upcoming bypolls, in order to try and restore its tally of elected representatives in the state legislative assembly to 17.

In March Rane along with the block committee members had resigned from the party, protesting against party’s failure to form the government despite winning 17 seats. He and his supporters had later joined ruling BJP.

Rane is now the Health Minister in Manohar Parrikar cabinet.

Team TNV