Former Maharashtra CM Narayan Rane floats new political party, Maharashtra Swabhiman

Rane had resigned from the Congress last month while accusing the party of reneging on the promise of making him the chief minister when he had joined the party 12 years ago after leaving the Shiv Sen

Narayan Rane

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane who resigned from the Congress last week announced that he would launch a new political party named Maharashtra Swabhiman Party here on Sunday.

“I’ve decided to float a new political party by the name Maharashtra Swabhiman Party. We shall be engaged in value-based politics. The party would be registered soon and decisions regarding the flag, symbol and other things would be made subsequently,” Rane said at a press conference.

Rane had quit the Congress last week accusing the Congress of going back on its promise of making him the Chief Minister and repeatedly insulting him during the course of 12 years that he was with the party.

It was being widely speculated for a long time that after quitting the Congress, Rane would join the BJP. However, there was intense opposition to his entry from within the party. So the BJP leadership decided to bring Rane into the NDA fold by way launching his own party.

However, Rane didn’t say anything on the process at the press conference.

Rane’s separate party is expected to help the BJP as he would target the Shiv Sena. Rane showed a glimpse of that strategy during the press conference as he criticized Uddhav Thackeray’s Dusserrah speech on Saturday.

“Shiv Sena won’t leave power till they are driven out,” Rane said, adding that during Thackeray’s speech party workers were leaving the venue. They didn’t appreciate whatever was being said.

“Thackeray criticizes the government over decisions like demonetization, GST and loan waiver. But, why doesn’t he just announce the suggestions made by Shiv Sena ministers on such issues which haven’t been followed by the government,” Rane added.

“If Thackeray is so touchy about the ‘Marathi manoos’ why he did never speak about rising real estate prices in Mumbai that have been driving the Marathi population out of Mumbai?” Rane questioned.