Rane’s photo appearing along with pictures of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari on posters gives rise to speculations about him joining BJP.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane shared the dais for the bhoomipujan ceremony of Mumbai-Goa quadrupling project at Kudal in Sindhudurg. However, Narayan Rane’s photo was missing from Congress party’s poster and is visible on the poster erected by him which features Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Thus speculations are rife in political circles whether Rane is switching loyalties towards BJP. Rane shared the same stage with Uddhav after the former was expelled by Bal Thackeray from Sena in 2005.
He said, “Politics must not create a hindrance where development is taking place. We are working for the state’s development and must forget about political rivalry. Both Fadnavis and Gadkari are doing good job in the state and centre respectively.”
On this occasion Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari were also present. Both Sena and Congress activists chanted slogans at the venue.
According to a political analyst, “Rane might be a better candidate for BJP as the party lacks a Maratha leader who can expand BJP’s foothold in the region. BJP might induct Rane to counter Sena which has always been in attacking mode ever since it has joined the Fadnavis government. Since Rane has a strong foothold in Konkan region he can strengthen BJP’s base in the region.”
The Rane family has been going through a tough phase of late as his son Nilesh Rane had lost Lok Sabha polls and while Rane himself had to face defeat in the Maharashtra assembly election. Rane was feeling sidelined within the Congress party after Ashok Chavan’s elevation to the post of MPCC president. He had failed to revive the sagging fortunes of the Congress while campaigning for the party. The internal rift prevalent within the party also was responsible for its poor performance in polls. Even though Rane has been known as the star campaigner of Congress but he has not been given a free hand in decision making process by the party. The cold war between Rane and Chavan was reported in media.
Earlier Rane had expressed his willingness to rejoin Sena but Uddhav Thackeray had given him a cold shoulder. Rane has always criticised Uddhav Thackeray and raised questions about his style of functioning. Even Sena used to indulge in war of words with Rane. He had expressed his displeasure over the functioning of senior Congress leaders and said that they have failed to win the confidence of grassroots workers. The morale of Congress party workers has taken a hit after its debacle in assembly elections.
Security was beefed up at Kudal as more than 400 police personnel was posted on the site. Since Rane is a member of Vidhan Parishad from the region he too was invited to attend the function.
