Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane quits Congress

Putting an end to the speculations, Narayan Rane finally quit the Congress on Thursday. Rane has, however, maintained suspense over the question of whether he would join the BJP or float his own political party.

Rane announced his decision to quit the party at a press conference in Kudal. The former Shiv Sena CM, had joined the Congress party in 2004 following differences with Uddhav Thackeray. 12 years after that, Rane has yet again decided to switch party. Rane alleged that that the party did not keep its promise.

"I was assured that I will be made chief minister in six months. I waited for 12 years, when I found that there was no scope for me in the Congress, I have decided to quit from the primary membership of the party and membership of the legislative council," Rane said.

"I was repeatedly humiliated in the party. When Vilasrao Deshmukh stepped down as CM in 2008, 48 Congress MLAs voted in my favour and only 32 wanted Ashok Chavan, but still Chavan was chosen for the top job, "Rane alleged.

Claiming that some 25 odd corporators from different parts of the state have quit with him, Rane claimed that the Congress was now almost extinct in the state.

Meanwhile, Congress has denied the allegation made by Rane.

"I have learnt from media reports that he has decided to quit, but I would like to categorically state that whatever he is alleging is false. I will not comment beyond that and I would like to wish him good luck for his future assignments," said Ashok Chavan, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

RANE'S POLITICAL JOURNEY

Starting his political career as a Shiv Sainik, Rane became a corporator and soon became an MLA.

Rane became a Cabinet minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP govt. But, when Manohar Joshi was removed as the CM by Bal Thackeray, Narayn Rane, a Maratha face, replaced him for the top Job.

Once known as Bal Thackeray's blue-eyed boy, Rane felt uncomfortable in the party when Bal Thackeray anointed Uddhav as his heir. Rane's outburst against the party led to his ouster from the party.

Rane soon joined the Congress, but the maverick leader continued his outburst against party leadership when he was denied the CM's post. Rane also went on to attack party president Sonia Gandhi.

Rane's political fortunes started to decline when his son Nilesh lost from the Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat in 2014. In the same year, Rane lost the assembly polls. He tried to make a comeback by contesting the Bandra East bypolls in Mumbai next year, but failed miserably Rane's supporters, who had quit with him from the Sena, slowly turned their back on the leader leaving him isolated.

Though Rane has quit from the party and as a legislator from the Upper House, his son Nitesh, who is an MLA from Kankavali constituency, stayed away from the announcement. Nitesh is likely to stay with the party to avoid disqualification.

Rane for now will be touring the state and is playing his cards close to his chest. Though, there have been speculations about the leader joining BJP, Rane is yet to make an official announcement of his next move.

(With inputs from Rubin Mujawar in Kudal)