Former Congress member Narayan Rane on Sunday announced the formation of his own political party on Sunday. The leader who had quit Congress last month, during a press conference named his new party as the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha.
While addressing the reporters, Rane directly attacked the Shiv Sena and its chief Uddhav Thackeray. He had quit the party in 2005 to join Congress and in Sep 2017 quit Congress to form his own political party.
Attacking the Shiv Sena chief Rane asked that who is Uddhav Thackeray. He alleged that the Shiv Sena chief while addressing the annual Dussehra rally of his party at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, had targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and himself. Rane also added that during his speech Thackeray had also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation and declining GDP.
Further attacking the Sena chief Rane said that most of the Sena members slept through the proceedings of the parliament and cabinet meetings. He added that he is always questioned if the Shiv Sena will complete its alliance with the BJP and he always reply that Sena will not leave the government but it will be kicked out.
These statement of Rane come a day after the Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, during his speech on Dushera had attacked the ruling BJP over its failures in the past three years. Thackeray had said that “Don’t teach us patriotism. The day when we need to be taught patriotism hasn’t come yet. We are not opposing the ban on cow slaughter, but what is that the BJP wants to achieve from it? We believe in the Hindutva defined by late Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who was quite practical about its exercise in daily life.”
While addressing the press conference Rane jibed at Shive Sena saying that no one in the party got a ticket without paying bribes in crores. He said that if anyone is in power it gives suggestion and work, not bribe. He also attacked the party on the recent incident of a stampede in Mumbai. Shiv Sena had held the Modi government responsible for the tragic accident saying government first need to repair the existing Railway system and then focus on getting new projects like the bullet train.
Responding to this statement of Thackeray, Rane said that “Don’t you (Uddhav Thackeray) want development? Balasaheb (Thackeray) said a Marathi manoos (man) should be rich at heart. But his (Uddhav’s) heart is rotten. He played the role of Raavan yesterday when he called PM Modi a liar. I didn’t like it.”
Indicating his desire to be the Chief Ministerial face, in his statement to the press, Rane said that he will soon get the party registered and launch the party flag and election sign. He also added that his party Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha will be joining hands with the BJP and will work for the development of the farmers, women and the minorities.
Rane was originally a member of the Shiv Sena, he left the party and joined Congress on July 26, 2005. As soon as he joined the party, he was appointed as the Revenue Minister. Rane was expelled from Shiv Sena by the then Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray because he had raised his voice against the Chief Son Uddhav Thackeray saying that he was gaining prominence in the party.
Rane has a strong influence in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. He even claimed that he was once again invited by Shiv Sena to join the party, however, he did not mention for which post.
Narayan Rane quit from Congress last month on the displeasure of not being made the Chief Minister twelve years back when he has joined the party.
Though during the press conference he did not give any indication whether his party will be joining the ruling NDA at the centre or not but by supporting the bullet train project and attacking Shiv Sena over criticising the decisions of Modi, he clearly stated that he might be supporting the ruling BJP at the centre.
However, the fact that he left the Congress on not being made the CM and then forming his own party may be a sign for the ruling BJP that it might have to tackle with a new candidate during the next assembly elections in Maharashtra.