Denying former CM Narayan Rane a ticket for the upcoming Council polls by using Shiv Sena as shield was a political game of CM Devendra Fadnavis, according to sources. It is being alleged that Mr Fadnavis and a few other senior BJP leaders do not want Mr Rane in the state Cabinet. However, Mr Rane may be fielded in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency, sources said.
When Mr Rane quit the Congress and tried to enter the BJP, there was strong opposition from RSS and senior BJP leaders. Mr Fadnavis too was not much in favour of MrRane but because of the high command, he accepted the decision, sources said. BJP has started prepping for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and it is planning to contest all seats without allying with the Sena. Mr Rane has some strength in Ratnagiri district and in the Konkan region. So, the BJP is planning to use MrRane against the Sena at the right time. However, state BJP leaders including Mr Fadnavis do not want Mr Rane to be inducted into the state Cabinet.
Mr Fadnavis shares very good relations with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and is aware that Sena will never support Mr Rane. Mr Fadnavis does not want to spoil relations with the Sena on account of Mr Rane. So, it is being said that Mr Fadnavis will use the Sena as shield against Mr Rane in future as well.
The BJP has given an assurance to Mr Rane that he will be inducted into the state Cabinet. The next Council elections will be in July and BJP can win five to six seats; currently, they have two MLAs. So, it will be very easy to accommodate Mr Rane in July. BJP will field him in the Lok Sabha elections against Sena MP Vinayak Raut.
