NATION Rane quits Cong, says it didn’t keep promise on CM post
After firing a salvo at the Congress, senior leader Narayan Rane on Thursday resigned from the party and as a Member of Legislative Council.
The former Congress leader did not reveal his future course of action, but it is learned that he will be touring the state for nine days beginning Friday. Mr Rane is expected to declare his decision on Dussehra. Meanwhile, his son Nitesh, continues to be a Congress MLA.
In his speech at Kankavali, Rane said, “I have sent my resignation from the Congress party to (party president) Sonia Gandhi at around 2.30 pm on Thursday. I have also resigned from the post of MLC and sent the resignation to the president. I do not run behind posts; rather, I get them. Not only from Sindhudurg but Congress workers and corporators from across the state are contacting me and expressing their willingness to join me.”
Mr Rane also claimed that Shiv Sena leaders had contacted him and expressed their desire to join him. Along with Mr Rane, the entire party executives’ wing has also resigned from the Congress. Asked if his son Nitesh had quit the Congress, Rane replied in the negative. “There are many MLAs from Congress and Sena who want to join me. But I will disclose it at the appropriate time,” he said.
Mr Rane has kept everyone guessing as to whether he will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or form his own independent political group. However, he has clarified that he will never return to the Sena fold.
About the tour, the senior leader said, “I will start my Maharashtra tour from Nagpur. I want to show Ashok Chavan that the people will support me without any post. I will decide in the next few days about my political future.”
“I was promised the chief ministerial post but never got it. Prithviraj Chavan even changed my ministry from revenue to industries,” Mr Rane added.