Narayan Rane withdraws resignation from Maharashtra cabinet

Konkan region leader to work towards a Congress victory in upcoming assembly polls

Two weeks after he resigned from the state cabinet, Congress leader Narayan Rane on Tuesday said he would continue to be industries minister in the Prithviraj Chavan-led council of ministers in Maharashtra.

Rane, who had submitted his resignation holding Chavan responsible for Congress’ debacle in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, termed his decision as an “adjustment”, after the party assured him his self-respect would not be harmed.

Rane told reporters Congress leaders had assured him the problems of the past will not recur. Rane, accompanied by sons Nilesh and Nitesh, added he would work for the victory of the Congress in the coming Assembly elections in the state.

He said he would start touring the state from Wednesday.

Rane had little option but to backtrack as the Congress high command had outrightly rejected his demand to replace Chavan as the chief minister in the run up to the assembly election slated for October. His demand to be made state Congress president for three months was also turned down.

Rane had met Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and argued that the party had failed to keep its promise to make him chief minister after he had left the Shiv Sena to join the Congress in July 2005. Rane had failed to get an appointment with party President Sonia Gandhi.

Rane's decision to stay with Congress comes at a time when Opposition parties have started mobilising forces against him, especially in Konkan region from where he hails. Besides,  the Shiv Sena, BJP and the NCP had rejected the option of his entry.

Rane could have formed his own outfit or convert Swabhiman Sanghatana, founded by son Nitesh, into a political party. However, he realised it would be tough to reach out to voters in such a short time.

Congress insiders claim Rane's stock has sharply fallen over the years, with the decline of his base in the Konkan region. The humiliating defeat of Rane's son, Nilesh, by Shiv Sena nominee Vinayak Raut in the Lok Sabha elections also put a question mark over his leadership ahead of the assembly polls.

On whether he was prepared to face the polls under Chavan, Rane said as head of the government, Chavan will lead, but at the party level, it will be a collective leadership.