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Rane attends MPCC meeting

Meena Menon

Videocon project gets Cabinet approval

MUMBAI: The newly appointed president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Manikrao Thakre, took charge at a chaotic function at the Tilak Bhavan in Central Mumbai on Thursday. It was attended by Congress leaders, including Revenue Minister Narayan Rane who has submitted his resignation from the State Cabinet.

Mr. Rane’s presence did raise a few eyebrows, though he did not speak at the function. He met Mr. Thakre, but avoided the media.

Congress workers who had gathered in large numbers blocked the press seating area, leading to unpleasant exchanges. Journalists clashed with the party workers and threatened to boycott the proceedings until things were sorted out. However, party leaders intervened and restored calm. Later Mr. Thakre apologised to the press.

Addressing the media later, Mr. Thakre said his priority would be to ensure the State Congress had a smooth run to the elections and that he would take everyone along with him. Responding to questions, he said the issue of Mr. Rane’s resignation and any disciplinary action was the decision of the party high command.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh reiterated that party discipline and loyalty were virtues that were to be nurtured. In an indirect reference to Mr. Rane’s resignation, the newly appointed Congress election campaign committee chief, Gurudas Kamat, too spoke of the sacrifice of Congress president Sonia Gandhi who refused to accept the Prime Minister’s post.

Earlier this week, at a public meeting to felicitate Kripa Shankar Singh, who took over as Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president, Mr. Kamat referred to loyalty. Those who accepted Mr. Deshmukh’s leadership were the true party workers.

By appointing Mr. Thakre, Mr. Kamat and another party loyalist Jayant Awale as working president of the party in Maharashtra, the high command has backed Mr. Deshmukh’s leadership and snubbed Mr. Rane’s claims that the State government was not being run efficiently. Mr. Rane’s presence at the meeting also shows that he wants to remain in the Congress, despite rumours to the contrary. In the last two days, NCP leader and Union Aviation Minister Praful Patel and other NCP leaders met Mr. Rane, sparking rumours that he was considering a switch. While Mr. Rane himself has been reiterating that he is a Congress member, the high command has shown him his place by not acting on his resignation.

The State Cabinet on Thursday approved the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting which had decided on granting 100 hectares of land for the Videocon LCD panel unit at Navi Mumbai. Mr. Rane has not attended office since that meeting where he recorded his dissent. Thursday’s Cabinet approval comes as another snub to Mr. Rane.

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