Mumbai: Slamming Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan for targeting him in the Congress party, former chief minister Narayan Rane announced on Monday that he would announce his next plan of action on September 21, while addressing his supporters at Kudal, Sindhudurg. “Congress does not want honest workers. But we are free to take our decision. Wait for Thursday,” said Mr Rane. There is an ongoing buzz about Mr Rane joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but the senior leader has not yet opened his cards.
Mr Rane went to Sindhudurg from Mumbai on Monday for the first time after the state Congress committee’s suspension of the district Congress committee that allegedly featured Mr Rane’s ‘men’. State Congress brought in Vikas Sawant, who was with Congress even before Mr Rane joined the party in 2005, as the district president. This was an indication for Mr Rane that the Congress is no more in mood to placate him.
Mr Rane lambasted Mr Chavan for this decision. He compared the verdict of February 2017 Zilla Parishad polls between Sindhudurg and Nanded (Mr Chavan’s home district). “Congress could win only one ZP on its own and that is Sindhudurg. Ashok Chavan couldn’t win on his own even in his own ZP and is now teaching us politics,” taunted Mr Rane. He also claimed that Mr Chavan has been continuously targeting him and his supporters for the last few months.
It has been speculated that Maharashtra’s BJP government is set to go for a shuffle in next few days. Mr Rane joining the BJP is almost old news now, which has once against gained momentum, thanks to his recent address.
“As Pitru Paksha is going on, it is unlikely that he would declare any decision in that direction till it completes,” said a close aid of Mr Rane from Sindhudurg on the condition of anonymity.
Mr Rane asked his supporters to form ‘Samarth Vikas Panel’ for Gram Panchayat elections in district.
