The entry of Narayan Rane in Devendra Fadnavis cabinet still appears to be uncertain as the Congress is not averse to exploring options to join hands with the Shiv Sena and NCP in order to defeat Rane, should he decide to contest upcoming bypoll for the lone legislative council seat.
Though he had faced two successive defeats in assembly polls from Kudal and Bandra east, the Congress had elected him to the legislative council. However, in a major setback to the Congress, he quit the party before Diwali and formed his own political outfit. Later, he announced his decision to join BJP-led NDA as he was assured a senior position in the Devendra Fadnavis government. As he had resigned from the Congress, he also resigned from the legislative council. The by-election for this seat will take place on December 7.
Rane's entry into state cabinet will take place only when Fadnavis decides about cabinet expansion. Knowing fully well that Shiv Sena is fiercely opposed to Rane's entry into cabinet, Fadnavis had said that Rane will be made a minister from BJP quota.
Rane is still undecided whether to contest the by-election. He will require 145 votes to get elected to legislative council. The BJP and independent legislators supporting the government can guarantee him 135-136 votes. He will have to manage 10 more votes by ensuring cross voting from the ranks of Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP. At present he is banking on support from a few Congress legislators including his son Nitesh. Still he is eight short of the magic figure of 145.
As the seat belonged to Congress, the state Congress leadership is exploring possibilities to join hands with Shiv Sena and NCP to field a strong consensus candidate against Rane if he decides to contest the by-election.
"The seat vacated by Rane's resignation is our seat. It is a seat of the opposition parties. We expect that Congress will be allowed to have its legislator get elected unopposed as there is a precedent. We wish to appeal to the conscience of BJP leadership that an election should not be forced upon us. However, in the event there is an election we have all our options open which includes joining hands with other parties who may not want Rane elected again," said Sachin Sawant, MPCC general secretary and spokesperson.
"Rane will contest the by-election and will win easily. Then he will be made minister from BJP quota and I don't see possibility of Shiv Sena walking out of the government, said a senior BJP minister.
He also felt that as Rane was part of NDA, it would be Fadnavis's responsibility to make sure that Rane wins. "I don't see any problem in this. There are legislators who will support Rane even within Shiv Sena,” the minister said.
Political circuit is abuzz with talks that Fadnavis is in no hurry to get Rane into the cabinet as he doesn't want to invite Shiv Sena's wrath. It is believed that it was because of this reason that he was opposed to Rane's entry into BJP. He preferred that Rane forms his own political oufit and then joins the NDA.
Another obvious dilemma for Fadnavis is the portfolio to be given to Rane. Rane has been chief minister of Maharashtra when he was in Shiv Sena. After joining Congress he held revenue and industries portfolio. Rane will obviously expect a key portfolio. All the important portfolios have been divided between the BJP and Sena. So in order to accommodate Rane, a senior BJP minister will have to be stripped of his portfolio. The only BJP minister who has shown willingness to give away his portfolio is Chandrakant Patil. He holds revenue and PWD portfolios and has said that he won't mind giving away PWD if the need arises.
A Congress leader felt that if Fadnavis really wanted Rane in the cabinet, he could have got him sworn in immediately. There was no need to wait for cabinet expansion. "I feel Rane may not contest as there is lot at stake for him."
On the other hand, an aide of chief minister Fadnavis felt that this was the best opportunity for Rane to get elected again as he needs just about 10 odd additional votes to reach 145 mark. "It is secret ballot. It would be easy for Rane. If he waits for next legislative council election he may need many more votes," said the official.
Narayan Rane met Fadnavis on Monday evening at the latter's official residence, Varsha. The topic of discussion was the upcoming bypoll and Rane's inclusion in the ministry. After meeting Fadnavis, Rane said that he will announce his decision at an appropriate time in a media briefing.
