Former Chief Minister and rebel Congress leader Narayan Rane, who resigned from the party last month, declared on Sunday that he was forming a new party called the Maharashtra Swabhiman Party. Mr Rane made the announcement in Mumbai, accompanied by his elder son and former MP Neelesh Rane.
Observers said Mr. Rane was inching towards the BJP-led NDA. “I have decided to form a new party which will raise people’s issues. No one has approached me for an alliance. Once I get a proposal, we will think about an alliance,” said Mr Rane. The Hindu on Thursday had reported that the Swabhiman Sanghatana , run by Mr Rane’s son and Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, will be the launchpad for his political party.