Fadnavis, Shah talks fail to decide on Rane, cabinet rejig
MUMBAI: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is supposedly in a dilemma over various political decisions, such as the induction of former chief minister Narayan Rane into the Cabinet, the proposed Cabinet reshuffle, and the candidature for the council bypoll to be held on December 7.
Even after a meeting between Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP chief Amit Shah, and senior leader Chandrakant Patil late on Monday, the leaders could not arrive at any conclusion over the issues.
Fadnavis and Patil met Shah in Ahmedabad around 11pm on Monday. Fadnavis told reporters the meeting was about Gujarat assembly elections. The leaders were summoned by Shah to discuss the responsibility the leadership wants the Maharashtra unit to shoulder. There was also discussion on Rane’s induction and candidature in the council election. Party sources said Shah has asked them to discuss it again next week.
The proposed reshuffle can wait and take place after the Gujarat election and the winter session of the legislature, but the leadership is caught in a Catch-22 situation over Rane’s induction.
The BJP leadership in the state is of the opinion that the party should field its own candidate instead of supporting Rane, whose induction is strongly opposed by Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray.
For the bypoll, all 288 members of the assembly will vote. Since Sena is unlikely to support Rane and the BJP does not have the requisite number to get the candidate elected on its own, Rane’s defeat may lead to embarrassment for the party.
The party is reportedly considering fielding either party spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, or former legislators Bal Mane and Pramod Jathar. It has also decided to shortlist a name that will be acceptable to the Sena.
The state unit is also under pressure for the induction of Rane as he was assured that he would be sworn in immediately after floating his own political party on October 1. “His induction can take place without him being elected to the council. He is likely to be asked to contest the council election in the next round of polls in June-july. Now, the question is whether he will be sworn in before the winter session of the legislature or after it,” said a BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.
The party leadership believes his induction before the winter session may upset the Sena. It may result in the ruling partner cornering the BJP over various issues, including goof-ups in disbursement of farm loan waiver.
The BJP is also seeking Sena’s support in the council election and in such a case, it cannot induct Rane before the bypoll is held on December 7. If Rane is inducted, he will have to be elected to either of the houses within six months. There is no election due for any council seat before June and this means he will have not opportunity to get elected to the council before June. In such a scenario the induction may be delayed to January.