IANS

Panaji, Jan 14: The Speaker of the state legislative assembly, Mr Pratapsing Rane on Wednesday said that he was a loyal soldier of the Congress party and would abide by any directive he receives from the high command, even as he denied that there was any move to topple the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat.

Responding to a query on whether he was offered the post of the chief minister by those opposed to the leadership of Mr Digambar Kamat, Mr Rane said that he would not take any decision at the request of anyone unless the Congress high command tells him. “I am not aware of any move to topple the Chief Minister,” he said.

He denied that any of the MLAs from the party or from the group of non-Congress MLAs met him on Wednesday.

He further said that he has held different posts like that of the chief minister, the leader of opposition and Speaker at the behest of party and not because somebody offered them to him. “I would continue to be a loyal Congressman and take up any assignment that my party leaders give me,” he said.