Narayan Rane’s outfit to join NDA

Maharashtra’s former chief minister Narayan Rane, who recently quit the Congress, on Friday said his political outfit, ‘Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh’, would join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“I have decided to be a part of the NDA for the development of the state and the Konkan region,” Rane said.

Dismissing speculation that he would be accomodated in the Union Cabinet, Rane said, “I will stay in Maharashtra till 2019.” He was apparently hinting at contesting the Lok Sabha polls to be held that year.

Rane, who resigned from the Congress party about two weeks ago after a long-drawn tussle with its state leadership, had claimed three days back that CM Fadnavis had invited him to join the NDA.

A prominent leader from the influential Maratha community, Rane hails from the Konkan region.