Narayan Rane finally accepts BJP's Rajya Sabha offer

Mumbai: Finally, Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh leader and former minister Narayan Rane has accepted the Bharatiya Janata Party's offer of the Rajya Sabha. The Asian Age had first reported about the offer on February 9 this year. Mr Rane will file his nomination on Monday. This is being perceived as BJP’s middle path to pacify both Mr Rane and major alliance partner, the Shiv Sena.

Mr Rane conveyed his acceptance of the offer to CM Devendra Fadnavis Friday evening. He met Mr Fadnavis and told him that he was ready to contest the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. Mr Fadnavis on Wednesday had conveyed the BJP’s final decision to give Mr Rane a chance to reach the elder House of the Indian Parliament. However, Mr Rane was reluctant and according to sources, even asked for the same offer for his elder son and former Lok Sabha MP Nilesh Rane. However, BJP president Amit Shah told Mr Fadnavis that BJP was in no mood to offer anything else to Mr Rane. 

On Friday, Mr Fadnavis firmly told Mr Rane that the latter had no other option but to accept  the offer. Sources confirmed that Mr Rane  has accepted the offer and is set to file his nomination on Monday.

Mr Rane left the Congress party in October 2017 and formed his own party, the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha, in December. He was assured by the BJP leadership of a cabinet berth in the state government. However, it is said the Sena strongly opposed Mr Rane’s inclusion in the cabinet.

The Sena is a major alliance partner of the BJP in Maharashtra and the party is in no mood to upset the Sena and any “possible” alliance in the 2019 general elections. On this backdrop, His entry into the state cabinet was next to impossible and therefore, the BJP decided to offer him a Rajya Sabha berth in February.