Panaji, Aug 29 (TOI): Reacting to his landslide victory in the Valpoi by-election, health minister Vishwajit Rane said people had voted for progress. Defeating his former party colleague Roy Naik by over 10,000 votes, Rane said the results had proved that money cannot win elections.

"The people of Sattari are poor but they are alert. This is a vote for development, this is a vote for progress," Rane said, while speaking to his supporters and the media after coming out of the ESG complex where counting of votes took place.

Rane said he was happy with the lead and that it was the first time that Muslims have voted for the BJP in Valpoi constituency. "Today, my decision to support the Parrikar government in the state was vetted by the people of Valpoi," he added.

The Valpoi bypolls were announced when Rane quit the Congress, which had failed to form the government in the state despite having emerged as the single-largest party after the assembly election in March this year. He subsequently joined the BJP on the promise that he would be appointed a minister in the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government.

"A lot of businessmen were involved in this election. Money was spent and mine owners have been taught an appropriate lesson by the people of Sattari. These businessmen should not think of buying the people of Sattari while sitting in their five-star hotels. Sattari has shown the way and in future elections too money would not make a difference," Rane said.