Shiv Sena will not win more than 20-22 seats: Narayan Rane

Former Industries Minister Narayan Rane took potshots at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, claiming that it will not get more than 20-22 seats in the October 10 state Assembly elections.  "So Uddhav Thackeray is now dreaming to be the CM of Maharashtra.. but can he become the CM by only giving big talks? Shiv Sena can never come to power in Maharashtra because they will not be able to win more than 20-22 seats on their own strength," Rane said today.

Addressing his supporters here during the launch of Congress's Assembly polls campaign, Rane said that Thackeray cannot speak of governance as he has no experience in it. "How will Uddhav prove himself to be a good CM when he himself has no experience in governance? Maharashtra needs someone who can ably head the state government," he said. The senior leader also disapproved of Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao's recommendation of imposing President's rule in the poll-bound state.

"The people of Maharashtra should understand what was the reason for the Governor to recommend the President's rule when there are just 15 days to go for elections? They could have allowed Prithviraj Chavan to continue as caretaker CM. But they did not do that because they wanted to have an edge over other parties," Rane said. Taking a dig at the BJP government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rane alleged that Modi failed to rein in the Chinese troops that were prepared to seize Indian territory.

"Modi invites the Chinese President (Xi Jinping) to Gujarat and while he is busy talking to him over the shores of Sabarmati river, the Chinese troops get ready to seize Indian territory. Should he not have reined the troops immediately instead of chatting with Jinping?" Rane asked. He claimed that India continues to remain in an economic mess, while the PM is busy touring other countries.