Narayan Rane merges his “Swabhiman” with the BJP, follows his son Nitesh’s footsteps

Pune: Arch rival of the Shiv Sena which the Sena loves to hate still and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Rane apparently merged his Maharashtra Swabhiman (self pride) Paksha (MSP), with the BJP. Rane senior along with his elder son, former MP and Congress member Nilesh Rane, and other party workers formally joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at an election rally for his younger son Nitesh at Kankavli on Tuesday afternoon. The local Shiv Sena cadres are vehemently opposed to the idea of the Rane’s joining the BJP and have declared that they will not canvass votes for Nitesh Rane.

Addressing the rally, Rane senior clarified that he had not joined the BJP with the intention of gaining anything. He added that his only aim is to see Sindhudurg district being developed into world class tourist destination, ending the prevailing poverty here and create job opportunities. The former Shivsainik heaped praise on Fadnavis’ government, he further said he had taken the decision to join the BJP after being impressed with Fadnavis’ leadership and vision for Maharashtra.

Commenting the Rane’s ‘entry into the BJP, Fadnavis said that Rane senior was already a part of the BJP as the party had sent him to the Rajya Sabha member. He added that the joining process which began with Nitesh Rane joining the party much earlier, is now followed up with his elder brother Nilesh joining the BJP along with the rest of the party cadres. Referring to the joining of the Rane’s, he clarified that the joining of the Rane’s was planned during the assembly elections. He assured Rane senior that his dream of making Sindhudurg and Konkan region as a world class tourist destination.

Referring to the aggressive streak in Nitesh Rane, the Chief Minister in a lighter vein remarked that the BJP would teach him the quality of restraint just like his father who knows when to be aggressive and when to restrain himself. Fadnavis expressed confidence that Rane junior would win 65 percent votes in Kankavli.

Even though Rane senior along with his two son’s has joined the BJP, the Sena in Sindhudurg district notwithstanding their pre-poll alliance has refused to tone down its hostilities against the Rane’s. The Sena has openly backed Satish Sawant against Nitesh Rane. Sawant has filed his nomination as an Independent. In a counter move, Narayan Rane has fielded his close aides, Rajan Teli and Ranjit Desai, against the Sena’s sitting legislators Deepak Kesarkar and Vaibhav Naik for the Sawantwadi and Kudal seats.