BJP leaked Narayan Rane meet info: Observers

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and ex-minister Narayan Rane has been in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) central and state leadership for some time now, but the information leak about his Wednesday night meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah seems to be part of a BJP stratagem. Political observers believe that the BJP is trying to gauge Shiv Sena’s reaction to Mr Rane’s possible induction into the party, as well as reduce Mr Rane’s bargaining power.

Mr Rane is unhappy with his party, as he was assured the chief minister’s post when he switched to Congress from Sena in 2005, but the Congress high command never keep its word. Mr Rane had also demanded that he be elevated to the post of state unit president with a total mandate in the wake of the Congress’ consecutive debacles in the general and Assembly elections in 2014. He met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi recently and demanded the post again, but, as the Congress has not given him any signal, the impassioned leader is looking at his options.

In an attempt to keep himself relevant in politics as well as to secure both his sons’ political future, Mr Rane has started mulling joining the BJP. The BJP leadership, however, knows that Mr Rane’s induction could irk alliance partner Shiv Sena as Mr Rane has a bitter relationship with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. As the Presidential elections are scheduled for July and the BJP needs the Sena’s votes to reach the magic figure, it is in no mood to irk its ally. Therefore, the BJP is said to have leaked information about Mr Rane meeting Mr Shah to see how the Sena takes it.

Also, Mr Rane is an ambitious leader who is always assumed to be a potential CM candidate. As of now, he may not be demanding the top post, but the BJP needs to reduce his bargaining power and through it his stature. By leaking the information, the BJP is pushing Mr Rane into ‘catch 22’ situation where he needs to take a final decision as early as possible. It remains to be seen whether Mr Rane slips into this trap or bargains successfully.

Netas who switched over to BJP  

Here are some of the leaders from all parties, including the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

• RS MP Sanjay Kakade (Pune) (independent)
• RS MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje (Kolhapur) (NCP)
• Ex MLC Prithviraj Deshmukh (Sangli) (NCP)
• MLA Lakshman Jagtap (Pimpri) (NCP)
• MLA Mahesh Landge (Chinchwad) (NCP)
• Ex-MLA Krishna Hegde (Mumbai) (Congress)

Dynamics of BJP-Sena relations over Rane

• Recently the BJP had carried out an internal survey of its organisational power on a regional basis. Sources who are knowledgeable about the survey confirmed that party has a weak base in the Konkan and western Maharashtra. Shiv Sena is strong in Konkan and especially in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, which were Mr Rane’s bastion till 2014. Mr Rane was in the Shiv Sena till 2005 when switched to Congress and became revenue minister. Keeping in mind the sulking Sena and its attempts to undermine the party, the BJP is keen on opening its doors to Mr Rane, who could launch a counter offensive, as he knows the Sena inside out.
• However, there is hitch to this strategy: how the Sena chooses to react to Mr Rane’s induction. The Sena leadership will be under pressure from its cadre not to share power with the ex-Sena strongman. If this pressure mounts, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will have to take a stand, which could destabilise the state government.
• Sources in the BJP confirmed to The Asian Age that their leadership is working on this situation.