Shiv Sena, BJP only fighting for CM's post, they've forgotten the people: Narayan Rane

After blowing hot and cold about his relationship with the Congress, Industries Minister Narayan Rane all geared up to lead the party's campaign for the assembly elections. In an exclusive interview with Sudhir Suryawanshi, the 62-year-old leader took potshots at the tussle between the Shiv Sena and BJP, saying the two parties are only fighting for the chief minister's chair and not for the public interest. He slammed Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray of showing immature leadership quality by escalating the seat-sharing crisis.

What about your seat-sharing talks? The NCP has given you a 12-hour ultimatum?
The discussions are still on. I will have to talk to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Manikrao Thakre before I can comment on the issue. It is not only Congress that needs the alliance. We both need each other to put up a united fight to defeat the saffron forces.

Don't you think you have wasted precious time due to the delay in arriving at a decision?
Everyone has lost the first phase. We will get 10 to 11 days to campaign. However, the Congress will use all available media to reach out to the masses. As the campaign committee head, I have already started to do electioneering in many parts of the state. We have also come out with two booklets to expose the Modi government. One is name Viddhan Sabha Jinkanarch (we will win the assembly polls) and the second exposes the Ache Din Aane Wale Hai campaign. The second booklet also has cartoons lampooning the BJP government.

Will the recent bypoll results help you?
Certainly, people have realised that the Modi government has failed to contain the inflation, create jobs and give good prices to farmer's product. Modi wave was an illusion. Now, people will again vote for the Congress-NCP combine.

How do you see the current fight over seat sharing between Sena and BJP?
The fight between these two parties are for the CM's post. They are not fighting for the welfare of Maharashtra and Marathi Manoos but for their own vested interest. People from the state will show them their right place in elections.

Do you think Uddhav Thackeray has displayed matured leadership to handle the current crisis with BJP?
I do not think so. Uddhav is not a mature leader. Everyone knows that the Sena got 18 seats in Lok Sabha polls because of the BJP and Modi only. In this fight, both will lose. In fact, there will be more damage to Sena because BJP is a national party the current crisis will have lesser impact on them. If Sena breaks the alliance, it put itself in deep trouble.

Your one-time diehard supporter Rajan Teli has joined NCP. Your comment.
You cannot compare me with Rajan Teli. He does not match my stature. His switching side won't have any impact on our base in Konkan.

If the Congress-NCP comes again in power, will you stake claim for CM's post?
I will not comment on it.