Narayan Rane join hands with NCP, fights BJP in his home town

Mumbai: The municipal council election of the Kankavli Nagar Panchayat in Sindhudurg district is witnessing cross-alliances.

The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Narayan Rane’s Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha is in alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). They are pitted against the BJP, which is contesting the election in alliance with Shiv Sena. All parties are calling it “local politics”.

Kankavli’s election is scheduled on April 6. In this, senior leader Mr Rane’s newly formed party, Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha is fighting against its NDA allies BJP and Shiv Sena. His party is contesting this election in an alliance with Sharad Pawar’s NCP on ground. Congress is contesting this election on its own.

Mr Rane’s staunch opponent Sandesh Parkar contesting for city mayor post on BJP’s ticket whereas Mr Rane has given ticket to Sameer Nalawade.  

Sindhudurg BJP was against the inclusion of Mr Rane in NDA fold as well as making him Rajya Sabha member of Parliament.

Now it has received support of Shiv Sena also. Sena’s MLA, Vaibhav Naik who defeated Mr Rane in 2014 assembly elections has joined hands of Mr Parkar to snatch Kankavli city from him.

Kankavli assembly seat has been strong hold of Mr Rane. His son Nitesh is MLA on Congress ticket. But Kankavli as a city has been voting against Mr Rane for quite a long time. For just four years out of 28, Mr Rane could control the city administration.

When asked about the local alliance Mr Nalawade said, “Local politics is complex. Generally we do not go by state level politics in such local elections.” “Our political lines are clear for our state level leadership. We are contesting according to local equations,” he added.