Panaji (GOA) State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday afternoon appeared before the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Dr Pramod Sawant in a disqualification petition filed against him by Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar.
Rane is BJP candidate for the by-election from the Valpoi assembly constituency
This was the first hearing in the petition, wherein Rane sought time of four weeks to submit his reply.
Sawant confirmed TNV that Rane appeared before him for the hearing. “We have granted the time and the matter is now fixed for next hearing on September 4,” he said.
Gaonkar had last this week filed a disqualification petition before the Speaker, following which a show cause notice was issued to the Minister.
Former Congress MLA from Valpoi, Rane had resigned as MLA on March 16 to join BJP. He was later inducted in Manohar Parrikar led cabinet.
A disqualification petition filed by Congress party against the Minister is pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa also.