Cong won’t take disciplinary action against NITESH RANE

Aiming to retain the post of Leader of Opposition in Assembly, the Congress has decided not to take disciplinary action against party legislators Nitesh Rane and Kalidas Kolambkar.

Sharad Ranpise Committee has been assigned the task of recommending whether action could be taken against Rane and Kolambkar for violation of not following party whip in election for member of legislative council.

In the election held on December 7 for a sole post of MLC, Prasad Lad of Bharatiya Janata (BJP) defeated Suresh Mane, candidate of CongressNationalist Congres party (NCP). After voting, Nitesh had said that he is loyalist to his father Narayan Rane and it was open secret for whom he had voted.

Narayan Rane has formed new political outfit - Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) after quitting Congress and had joined National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP.

Nitesh had challenged Congress to take action against him for anti-party activity. Kalidas Kolambkar too is considered to have voted in favour of Lad of BJP.

Congress constituted a committee under Sharad Ranpise which has submitted it’s report to th legislative party.

According to a party insider, “If Congress sack Rane and Kolambkar for anti-party activity, the rally of party in Assembly will be reduced from 42 to 40.”

“NCP has 41 members in lower house and in such a situation, Congress will lose post of LoP. Hence, it has been decided not to take action against Rane and Kolambkar,” said the party source.

“Till 2019 Assembly poll, both these members will enjoy benefit of legislator despite associated with Narayan Rane,” he added.