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Cong suspends Narayan Rane
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 6
The Congress on Saturday suspended Maharashtra revenue minister Narayan Rane, stating “gross indiscipline” as the reason. The action follows Rane’s public outburst against the party high command after he was ignored for the post of the state Chief Minister.

Rane on Friday had openly revolted against the party, voicing his anger against Party president Sonia Gandhi and other members when it became clear that he had lost the Chief Ministerial race.

While it had become certain yesterday that the Congress intended to take action against Rane, on Saturday, a formal statement issued by AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi sealed his fate.

“It has been observed that after the announcement of the new leader of the CLP in Maharashtra, Narayan Rane is making public statements deliberately with a view to lowering the prestige of the Indian National Congress,” he said.

“I don’t trust even Sonia Gandhi anymore,” he also remarked. His direct attack on Sonia Gandhi, party sources said, was the trigger for his suspension.

Rane threatens to split Cong
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 6
Chief Minister aspirant-turned-dissident leader Narayan Rane has threatened to split the Congress in Maharashtra after the party leadership suspended him from the organisation’s primary membership on charges of “gross indiscipline”.

Shortly after the party’s spokesperson made the announcement in New Delhi, suspending him from the primary membership of the Congress, Rane held his own press conference to hit out at his detractors. Claiming the support of a large number of MLAs, Rane said at least 35 MLAs in the Congress Legislative Party were opposed to Ashok Chavan being named the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Rane claimed that at least 30 of them would break away from the Congress.

“I can ensure that the next Congress-led government is not formed in Maharashtra and even if one is formed, it won’t last long,” Rane stated. After breaking away from the Shiv Sena three years ago, Rane played a major role in increasing the Congress’ tally of MLAs in Maharashtra by getting several Shiv Sena MLAs resign and contest under his leadership. At least 11 MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly are said to be loyal to Rane.

Rane’s threat has now forced the party leadership to scrounge around to shore up its numbers. While the Congress has 75 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, the NCP has 71 MLAs. The opposition Shiv Sena and the BJP have 56 and 52 MLAs respectively. Independents and MLAs from smaller parties make up for the rest.

At the press conference in response to his suspension from the party, Rane sounded sarcastic. The Congress, he said, no longer required sincere and loyal workers and needed only loyalists like Vilasrao Deshmukh to get by. “I accept my suspension from the Congress and welcome the appointment of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra CM,” Rane remarked.

Poking fun at the Congress’ practice of suspending dissidents, Rane noted that even Vilasrao Deshmukh was suspended from the party in 1997 though he went on to become the CM. “So you can see which way my future lies,” Rane remarked.

Not known to hide his ambitions for the top job, Rane said he was not an aspirant for the top job.

Clearly indicating that he would take his battle against the party leadership to the voters, Rane has begun to claim that the Congress was endangering the country’s future.