Congress minister Narayan Rane to resign from Maharashtra cabinet

Move comes even as his opponents are rallying against him

The Congress party in Maharashtra on Thursday received a major setback as industries minister and former chief minister Narayan Rane, who comes from the Konkan region, decided to resign from the state cabinet. He will formally hand over his resignation to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday.

However, Rane, who had joined the Congress in July 2005, after deserting the Shiv Sena, scoffed at reports that he would quit the Congress ahead of the Assembly poll slated for October. Instead, he said on Thursday that he would continue to be a Congress legislator. Despite Rane’s denial though, his aides believe he might set up his own political outfit for survival.

Rane had offered to resign, taking moral responsibility of the humiliating defeat of his son and Congress nominee Nilesh Rane by Shiv Sena nominee Vinayak Raut in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency in the Lok Sabha polls. However, he withdrew his decision after being convinced by Prithviraj Chavan and party leaders.

Rane, who is sulking at being neglected by the party, had abstained from at least three cabinet meetings after the Lok Sabha poll results. During the post-Lok Sabha debacle reviews conducted by the state party unit, Rane had strongly criticised the disconnect between the government and the party organisation. Besides, he is believed to have held Chavan and state party chief Manikrao Thakre responsible for the Congress’ crushing defeat in Maharashtra, where it could win a mere two seats.

Moreover, Rane’s decision to resign from the state cabinet comes at a time when his opponents are rallying against him in his home district Sindhudurg. Last week, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator from Sawantwadi Deepak Kesarkar, who had openly worked for Nilesh Rane’s defeat in the general election, left NCP and decided to join the Shiv Sena. Besides, a section of the Congress has deserted Rane.

As far as the Shiv Sena is concerned, it is gearing up for a grand fight against Rane, who slowly and steadily has lost his grip in Sindhudurg and other districts of the Konkan region.