Mumbai: Laying rest to speculation on his future after quitting the Congress, former Chief Minister Narayan Rane on Sunday announced the formation of the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha (MSP). The new party, which will come up on the foundation laid by his son and Congress MLA Nitesh Rane’s NGO Swabhiman Sanghatana (SS), is widely expected to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Sources told The Hindu that Mr. Rane will be meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the next two days. “The State Cabinet expansion is in October first week, at which Rane saheb will be inducted as per discussions [with the BJP]. We hope everything goes smoothly.”
“All along, things worked as planned. Joining the NDA was a done deal,” a close Rane aide said. He added that within an hour of forming the MSP, calls were made to the BJP top brass, and the new party is set to join the NDA. “All that remains is the official announcement.”
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The formation of a new party was a precondition for BJP support, sources close to Mr. Rane said. Last week, he was expected to join the BJP and corner a State Cabinet berth, but a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah remained inconclusive. Sources said Mr. Rane had tried for over six months to join the BJP, but his induction was stalled due to objections by several party leaders.
At the press conference on Sunday, Mr. Rane was accompanied by his son, former MP Neelesh Rane. “I have decided to form a new political party, and till now, no one has approached me for an alliance. Once I get a proposal from the party, we will think of an alliance,” he said, apparently referring to the BJP. “I still have the ambition to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. It never dies. I will wait for the right time.” He said MSP and SS will merge into a single entity, but didn’t reveal the official party board or a symbol.
Referring to the BJP, he said, “I have friends there, so I have no issues with the party. Let me first make new friends for my party, and then I will be able to announce my next move. We will never oppose development-related work like the bullet train project.” Mr. Rane, who resigned from the Maharashtra Legislative Council after leaving the Congress, said he is undecided on contesting the MLC polls.
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‘Uddhav, Chavan not friends’
Mr. Rane singled out Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan for criticism. “Everyone in the Shiv Sena is my friend except Uddhav Thackeray, who is nothing but a mean person. He hardly understands any issue and keeps cribbing about BJP leaders and their decisions. It is due to his leadership that the party has been widely ridiculed. I have a similar equation with MPCC president Ashok Chavan; except him, everyone in the Congress is my friend.”
Mr. Chavan said, “It will be difficult for the BJP to take on the Sena, as they are allies. Using others to weaken the Sena is BJP’s plan. The Sena keeps threatening to quit the alliance, but doesn’t do so. I welcome all who consider me their main opposition, but the reality cannot be hidden: the BJP is using [Mr. Rane] to weaken the Sena.”
Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe said, “We have defeated them politically time and again. Why should we even consider replying to their [MSP’s] allegations? I don’t want to comment on someone who was kept waiting while Amit Shah attended a music programme. I’ll wait for official confirmation on Mr. Rane joining the NDA before commenting.”
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik compared Mr. Rane with former Congressman and Gujarat CM Shankarsinh Vaghela, hinting at BJP trying to divide opposition votes. “Vaghela in Gujarat and now Narayan Rane in Maharashtra, both launched a new party. Let’s see what their future is.”