Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday met Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) chief Narayan Rane at the latter’s residence at Kankavli in Sidhudurg district, sparking speculation of an electoral alliance.
Though the two Maratha strongmen held discussions for about half an hour, both leaders termed the visit a courtesy call.
“I was en route to Mumbai and hence decided to pay an old colleague this courtesy call…there was no newsworthy chai pe charcha (discussion over tea),” Mr. Pawar, who is on a tour of the Konkan region, said.
According to sources, Mr. Pawar came to meet Mr. Rane following a phone call from the latter.
In September 2017, Mr. Rane had severed his association with the Congress with the expectation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is weak in the Konkan belt, would welcome him. Yet, Mr. Rane has not been accommodated in the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet. While he was ultimately sent to the Rajya Sabha in March with the support of the BJP, Mr. Rane’s relations with the saffron party have been less than cordial.
According to observers, Mr. Pawar is aware of Mr. Rane’s disaffection with the BJP, and is looking for an opportunity to back him. Like the BJP, the NCP, too, is on the back foot in Konkan.
“Every senior leader in Maharashtra — be it Mr. Fadnavis or Mr. Pawar — is aware of Mr. Rane’s strength and influence in the Konkan region. Hence, the reason for this visit,” Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, Mr. Rane’s son, said.
Despite the Congress and the NCP’s proposed grand alliance with like-minded parties to combat the BJP in the general and Assembly elections next year, the seat-sharing arrangement between the two is a matter of contention. Furthermore, Mr. Pawar’s choice of like-minded allies has invited objections from the Congress.
Last month, during his tour of Kolhapur, Mr. Pawar met Swabhimani Paksha chief Raju Shetti, expressing his support for the latter’s candidacy from the Hatkanangale Lok Sabha seat.
In October, Mr. Pawar shared a flight from Aurangabad to Mumbai with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. The Congress, reportedly, is opposed to the MNS entering the coalition.
