Former Maharashtra CM Narayan Rane willing to contest Bandra East bypoll

Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane is willing to contest the Assembly bypoll from Bandra East seat in suburban Mumbai, slated for next month.

"If the party nominates me, I am ready to contest," Rane, who had served as cabinet minister in previous Congress-NCP government, told PTI.

Rane said he was earlier asked about contesting the bypoll and had then said that he would convey his decision at the appropriate time.

"I have made up my mind," he said.

The bypoll, to be held on April 11, was necessitated following death of sitting Shiv Sena MLA Bala Sawant.

Rane had lost last year's Assembly election from Kudal in his home turf of Sindhudurg district to a Shiv Sena candidate by a margin of over 10,000 votes.