State Congress promoted Manikrao Thakre to sideline Narayan Rane

A highly-placed source from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) said Manikrao Thakre was pushed for the post of deputy chairman of the state Legislative Council, all the while keeping top Congress leaders in the dark.

This, the source said, was done to prevent Maratha leader Narayan Rane from getting the post of party group leader in the House.

The source further said that while Dalit leader Sharad Ranpise was the first choice of the party, Mr Thakre was promoted, taking advantage of Sonia Gandhi’s hospitalisation. However, MPCC president Ashok Chavan has rubbished the claims.

Mr Thakre was elected as deputy chairman of the Upper House on August 5 during the monsoon session.

The AICC source said party president Sonia Gandhi had to be admitted to hospital suddenly after cutting short her trip to Varanasi on August 4.

“Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were also kept busy at the hospital. Hence, Congress leaders from Maharashtra were unable to seek their approval for deputy chairman either,” the source claimed.

According to a source, Delhi wanted Mr Ranpise to be elevated as vice-chairman and Mr Rane to be made the group leader in the House to improve the party’s performance in the Upper House.

“As of now, three constitutional posts with the Congress are occupied by Maratha leaders. If the post of group leader is also given to Mr Rane, it will send a wrong message to the backward classes,” said the source.

The source said that Mr Chavan, who had opposed Mr Rane’s nomination for MLC election, wanted to sideline Mr Rane, as he could be a strong claimant to the chief ministerial post in future.

“Now, Mr Rane cannot become the group leader till the time Mr Ranpise retires in July 2018,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chavan refuted such claims and said several names were considered, including that of Mr Ranpise.

Mr Thakre said he was not aware about what happened behind the scenes and why Mr Ranpise’s name was dropped.

“I have a huge network of party workers.

They feel their pending issues will be sorted if I have constitutional power,” said Mr Thakre.

Mr Ranpise and Mr Rane were not available for comment.