The veil of suspense has finally lifted as the Mahayuti has officially declared veteran leader Narayan Rane as its candidate for the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency. This decision comes after intense contention between the BJP and Shiv Sena, both vying for control of the seat.
The BJP is placing its bets on the perceived influence of Narayan Rane in the region, banking on his historical stronghold and political prowess. Returning to the electoral fray poses a significant challenge for Rane, who must now prove that he remains a relevant force in Konkan politics and that his influence can translate into tangible gains for the party. Despite his storied past, characterised by multiple party affiliations over two decades, Rane's ability to navigate this dynamic landscape will be put to the test.
Rane's political journey began as a grassroots worker for the Shiv Sena, swiftly ascending the party ranks due to his strong presence in the Konkan region and assertive demeanor, which aligned well with the party's ethos. His close association with Bal Thackeray, the party's founder, further solidified his position, culminating in his appointment as Chief Minister in 1999.
In the 1999 state assembly elections, the Shiv Sena-BJP combine failed to return to power. However, in 2002 Rane allegedly "kidnapped" a few MLAs from the ruling Congress-NCP combine and kept them at Matoshri Sports Club in Goregaon in his bid to topple the Vilasrao Deshmukh government. The attempt failed and Deshmukh managed to save the government by providing the required numbers of MLA in Vidhan Sabha. Rane claimed that his plan couldn’t be successful because of lack of cooperation from the coalition partner BJP.
In the following years, Rane's trajectory within the Shiv Sena began to wane with the ascension of Bal Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray, to party leadership. Feeling sidelined within the party hierarchy, Rane's discontent boiled over in a public outburst against Uddhav's confidant Milind Narvekar, leading to his expulsion in 2005.
Subsequently, Rane found a new political home in the Congress, serving as a minister in the state government. Rane claimed that the Congress had promised him to make the Chief Minister, but didn’t keep its promise, although there were two opportunities in 2008 and 2010 to install him on the coveted post. He was fielded in Bandra, East assembly bypolls which was necessitated due to the demise of the sitting MLA. The Shiv Sena fielded the widow of the MLA who defeated Rane riding on the sympathy wave. The disillusionment with the party's leadership led to his departure in 2017, prompting the formation of his own political outfit, the Maharashtra Swabhimani Paksh.
In a strategic move, Rane joined the BJP in 2018 and secured a ticket to the Rajya Sabha. He currently holds a ministerial position in the outgoing Modi cabinet, overseeing micro, medium, and small enterprises.
Rane's foray into politics has also influenced his family, with both his sons, Nilesh and Nitesh, joining the BJP. While the younger son is a MLA from Kankavli seat, his elder son became a Member of Parliament in 2009 from the same Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat where Rane senior is contesting this time. Nilesh lost to Shiv Sena's Vinayak Raut in 2014 and 2019. In 2014, as a Congress candidate, Narayan Rane lost the Kudal assembly seat to Shiv Sena’s Vaibhav Naik.
Despite his pedigree and political alliances, doubts linger regarding Rane's influence in the Konkan region, especially considering his past electoral defeats. With the upcoming election, questions arise about Rane's ability to mobilize support, particularly from Shiv Sena loyalists who may harbor reservations about supporting a former adversary. The outcome of the polls will serve as a litmus test, determining whether Rane still commands sway in the Konkan or has faded into political obscurity.
(J Kumar is a journalist, an author and a political commentator based in Mumbai)
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