Frustrated by the Congress party’s silence over his resignation from the Maharashtra Cabinet two weeks ago, dissident leader Narayan Rane said he will announce his next move on Tuesday.
“I am waiting to see if there is any further response from the party. I will make an announcement on Tuesday,” Mr Rane told The Hindu . Party sources say the AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash may seek a meeting with Mr Rane.
The rebel leader had criticised the party high command and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan when he quit the cabinet on July 21st. Subsequently, he met party vice president Rahul Gandhi and demanded the post of State Congress Chief as well as the Revenue Ministry. However, the party did not accept his resignation or offer him a new post.
Mr Rane is now in a quandary about his next move. His entry into the saffron camp looks unlikely since the Shiv Sena is opposed to it. Mr Rane, who was earlier in the Shiv Sena had switched to the Congress in 2005 after publicly criticising the party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Mr Rane is said to be in touch with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. He may even contemplate forming his own political front through the Swabhiman Sanghatna run by his son Nitesh Rane.
“As of now Mr Rane is in the Congress. There is no plan to join other parties,” says his supporter Shyam Sawant.
