Rane criticises Sena, says won’t be part of BJP campaign panel
MUMBAI: Former chief minister and Maharashtra Swabhimani Paksh (MSP) chief Narayan Rane, while attacking the Shiv Sena for its decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleged that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray gave in to the deal to avoid action over corruption in the Mumbai civic body.
Addressing a press conference at his Juhu residence on Tuesday, Rane also said he would not work in the national campaign committee of the BJP.
Hours after the SENA-BJP announced it would forge an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, former Sena leader Rane attacked Uddhav and his party. Rane, who is a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha, restrained from criticising chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders, but said that both ruling parties have failed to keep their promises during their four and half years of rule in the state.
Alleging that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the most corrupt government body, Rane attacked Uddhav saying he had invested in real-estate projects in partnership with elected representatives of the party. He said the Sena, which has been doing politics in the name of Marathi Manoos, is responsible for pushing him out of the city. “Sena has been ruling the BMC for past 25 years, but it could not ensure homes for the sons of soil by keeping them within reach. The civic body increased the taxes and other rates that resulted in the pushing out of locals from the city. Sena is directly responsible for the dwindling population of Marathis in the city,” he said.
Rane said that Sena has no right of saying that the alliance was forged in the larger interest of the common public. “Despite having no demand fulfilled by the BJP, the Sena leadership joined hands with them out of helplessness. They have been talking that they would not think of an alliance unless farmer loans were waived off and the Nanar refinery project was scrapped, but nothing has been done as yet. The voters will now judge the ruling parties for their performances and policies over the past four-and-ahalf years. I don’t think the saffron alliance will be able to secure even 30 seats in the next Assembly elections.”
The Sena said Rane’s statements were because of frustration. “We opt to ignore Rane as he is no more consequential for us. He himself should introspect on where he stands today after he left the Sena. We have been emerging politically stronger every passing day,” said party spokesperson and legislator Neelam Gorhe.
While maintaining that he would not resign as a BJP MP, Rane also announced that his elder son Nilesh will fight the Lok Sabha elections and Nitesh the Assembly elections as MSP candidates. Rane also announced that he will request BJP leadership to divest him from the party’s manifesto committee as he would be releasing his own party’s manifesto for the election. Rane also said that since he was made an MP by the party, he would restrain from making any comments against the party and the CM.