Narayan Rane to announce move on Thursday

Shiv Sainik-turned-Congressman Narayan Rane will announce the future plans on Thursday coinciding with Navratri celebrations – a development that would have a bearing on the politics of Maharashtra.

The 65-year-old strongman from Konkan region – and his two sons Dr Nilesh Rane, a former MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and Nitesh Rane, an MLA from Kankavli, have raised a banner of revolt and in the last couple of days have come down heavily on the leadership style of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan.

A six-time MLA, Rane, who lost two elections in recent times – during the 2014 Assembly polls later bye-polls from Bandra in Mumbai – was later made an MLC.

When the Shiv Sena-BJP saffron alliance was in power from 1995-99, Rane was a minister and briefly the chief minister.

Then he was the leader of the opposition, however, was expelled by Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray for raising a banner of revolt against Uddhav Thackeray, in 2005.

He joined the Congress and was made a minister and handled portfolios like revenue and industries.

However, Rane was never made the chief minister or the president of the MPCC and this has irked him and his supporters.

Over the last three months, there had been speculation that he would join the BJP and there had been reports of his meeting with BJP president Amit Shah along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. On Thursday, it would be seen whether he joins the BJP or not.

On the other hand, he himself had claimed that he was offered to come back to the Shiv Sena, however, he had rejected the idea.

Political observers said that if Rane makes an exit, it would have a lot of repercussions. "If he quits, he would lose the post of MLC.

If his son also resigns, Congress would be one MLA less. Which means the number of seats of Congress and NCP would be the same. Subsequently, if Kalidas Kholambkar, the most trusted aide of Rane also resigns, Congress would lose the post of leader of the opposition," he said.

The observers also added that in case Rane joins the BJP, the Shiv Sena would be giving tough times to the BJP as the Rane vs Uddhav political war-of-words is a known thing.