Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Narayan Rane today hailed Bal Thackeray, asserting that the late Sena supremo has made him the man he is today.
Rane, a former Chief Minister, was with the Shiv Sena for several years before joining the Congress.
"Whatever I am today is only because of Balasaheb. The confidence that Balasaheb had in me then, no other leader had. Which-ever party I move to, Balasaheb's place (in my heart) will remain the same," Rane said at an event organised to celebrate his 65th birthday.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde were present on the occasion.
"When I wanted to become the Mayor of Mumbai, Balasaheb gave me a chance to become a member of the Legislative Assembly. Maharashtra knows Narayan Rane (only) because of Balasaheb," he added.
Rane said he does whatever he decides to without getting scared of anybody because he works with honesty and sincerity.
"I talk to (Congress chief) Sonia Gandhi and (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi as I used to talk with Balasaheb," he said.
Rane also remembered late BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Pramod Mahajan.
He said Gadkari has a bright future and he has the capability to change the face of the nation.
"Our (Rane and Gadkari's) friendship is pure. I am in the Congress, yet, Gadkari came (to attend the birthday celebration) because of our friendship. Despite sharing the dais with aggressive leaders of Opposition parties, Gadkari looks unnerved. Only he knows how to put his position in danger to preserve friendships," Rane said.
Gadkari said both (of them - he and Rane) have together played the role of an efficient opposition.
"Rane came to Mumbai and created his leadership without having any political backing. He is a self-made man. People change when they leave their political party. But Rane never disrespected Balasaheb," he said.
"However harsh was the criticism (from Shiv Sena) but he never said anything that would disrespect Balasaheb. Had Rane not left the Sena, politics in the state today would have gone in a different direction," Gadkari said.
Shinde said there are rumours of Rane mulling to join other parties but they are unwarranted.
"New legislators should consider Rane as an ideal," the Congress veteran said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)