Narayan Rane denies joining BJP, blames Congress rivals for rumour
Is Congress leader Narayan Rane on his way to join the BJP?
Speculation has been rife for the past few days within the Congress that Rane could be on his way to join the saffron party. Rane has been in the news for attacking both the state as well as the central leadership of the Congress. Meanwhile, the former Congress minister has been denying that he is quitting the party and blaming the rumours on `rivals within the party'.
On Tuesday, there was once again speculation after Rane went to Delhi. Though Rane and his son Congress MLA Nitesh Rane blame Congress leaders for such specualtion, the Congress leader himself has not helped things by his actions and utterances. The former minister has slammed Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan for the debacle in the party claiming that the state party unit is directionless.
A couple of days ago, Rane without taking names had said, "Nothing has been done to stop the slide of the party. Party workers are getting frustrated and leaving the party. It is not right to use party posts for selfish reasons."
He had attacked the central leadership of the party too. When asked whether he was unhappy in the party, he had said, "What is the use of remaining unhappy? The party doesn't understand or take note of the reason for the happiness," said the former minister.
Rane's elder son former MP Nilesh Rane had also set tongues wagging last week when he resigned from the post of general secretary of the Maharashtra Congress. Nilesh also blamed Ashok Chavan for his resignation and echoed his father's allegation that Chavan was using party posts for his own `benefits'.
Sources within the BJP said they are interested in him joining the party to further weaken the Congress but added that Rane doesn't have the same heft that he had in his early years.
"He, however, can still be useful for us because in the recent Zilla Parishad polls in Sindhudurg he was instrumental in the Congress retaining its bastion," said a BJP leader. Congress leaders in the state said Rane might stay if he is made the state president and given full powers to appoint his own men.
However, they added that there are many in the party who would not like to work under Rane's leadership. While the Congress dithers the BJP seems to have extended an olive branch to the former Congress minister.
Speculation has been rife for the past few days within the Congress that Rane could be on his way to join the saffron party. Rane has been in the news for attacking both the state as well as the central leadership of the Congress. Meanwhile, the former Congress minister has been denying that he is quitting the party and blaming the rumours on `rivals within the party'.
On Tuesday, there was once again speculation after Rane went to Delhi. Though Rane and his son Congress MLA Nitesh Rane blame Congress leaders for such specualtion, the Congress leader himself has not helped things by his actions and utterances. The former minister has slammed Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan for the debacle in the party claiming that the state party unit is directionless.
A couple of days ago, Rane without taking names had said, "Nothing has been done to stop the slide of the party. Party workers are getting frustrated and leaving the party. It is not right to use party posts for selfish reasons."
He had attacked the central leadership of the party too. When asked whether he was unhappy in the party, he had said, "What is the use of remaining unhappy? The party doesn't understand or take note of the reason for the happiness," said the former minister.
Rane's elder son former MP Nilesh Rane had also set tongues wagging last week when he resigned from the post of general secretary of the Maharashtra Congress. Nilesh also blamed Ashok Chavan for his resignation and echoed his father's allegation that Chavan was using party posts for his own `benefits'.
Sources within the BJP said they are interested in him joining the party to further weaken the Congress but added that Rane doesn't have the same heft that he had in his early years.
"He, however, can still be useful for us because in the recent Zilla Parishad polls in Sindhudurg he was instrumental in the Congress retaining its bastion," said a BJP leader. Congress leaders in the state said Rane might stay if he is made the state president and given full powers to appoint his own men.
However, they added that there are many in the party who would not like to work under Rane's leadership. While the Congress dithers the BJP seems to have extended an olive branch to the former Congress minister.
