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Narayan Rane's political storm fizzles out

Cong gives his demands cold shoulder; disgruntled leader has no option but to accept whatever party offers

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Maharashtra industries minister Narayan Rane's banner of revolt against chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and the Congress leadership has seemingly proved to be a damp squib.

It has been over 10 days now since Rane quit the Chavan cabinet, but the Congress neither agreed to act on his suggestions nor did it meet his demands. The disgruntled leader had demanded that he be made the campaign committee head with a major 'say' in ticket distribution for the assembly polls.

However, the chief minister, who is known to be close to the Congress high-command, systematically dealt with the situation by not accepting Rane's resignation and putting the ball in Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's court. Rane recently met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who reportedly promised that his grievances and demands will be taken up with the Congress president. In fact, Rane wanted to meet Sonia Gandhi but ended up meeting Rahul as his wish was not granted.

Now, the 62-year-old ex-Shiv Sainik has no option but to remain in Chavan's cabinet and work for the Congress in the October assembly elections. "The unrest triggered by Rane has been systematically put down by the leadership in Congress style. This untimely revolt by Rane has put him in a peculiar situation because most of the options before him have now been closed. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has asked BJP president Amit Shah not to take Rane into BJP fold. And, Rane himself has denied reports of his launching a new party. In Congress, nothing happens immediately. But Rane wants instant result," said a Congress source.

When dna contacted Rane, he was not available for comments. However, Manikrao Thakre, president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, told dna that Rane will very much be in the party.

"Ranesaheb is a senior leader of the Congress. He will work for the party in the state polls as well. His resignation has not been accepted, so there is no question of him leaving the state cabinet. He has also met our leader Rahul Gandhi. Something positive will come out," said Thakre.

Congress sources said that Rane's protest against Chavan was quite untimely. "Rane was not even able to get elected his elder son Nilesh from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurgh constituency in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Besides, his support base in Konkan is fast eroding. During his political tour after resignation, Rane was forced to import people from neighbouring districts for his rallies. Even when he raised the banner of revolt, no Congress MLA close to him came out in support of his demand. It shows that Rane is isolated. Therefore, the Congress leadership will not give that much importance to his revolt. So, Rane has no option but to wait for the party decision and accept whatever role its offered to him," said a political observer.

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