BJP likely to field Union Minister Narayan Rane from Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri LS seat

He stated that the list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls will be finalised by the central parliamentary board and the election committee of BJP.

A leader in BJP who is part of the core committee said, “The BJP wants to field Narayan Rane in Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri Lok Sabha seat and Pankaja Munde in Beed Lok Sabha seat.”

With Narayan Rane in fray, the BJP hopes it will be able to give a tough fight to Shiv Sena (UBT) in Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri Lok Sabha seat.
Last month, Chandrashekhar Bawankule held a series of meetings and public rally in Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri region.

The local BJP unit had put up posters to convey its fight against the political rivals. The banners read–Saksham, Shatpratishat (capable, 100 per cent).

The assertion from the local BJP unit was part of the strategy to show BJP’s strength in the district which has always been the stronghold of Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray.

In 2019, the contest for Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri Lok Sabha seat was between Shiv Sena (undivided) candidate Vinayak Raut and Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha candidate Nilesh Rane.

Vinayak Raut won the seat bagging 4.58 lakh votes, defeating Nilesh Rane, who polled 2.79 lakh votes. It was a replay of 2014 Lok Sabha elections where Nilesh Rane contested as Congress candidate against Vinayak Raut and lost. Nilesh Rane is the son of Union minister Narayan Rane, who is in BJP now.

In 2009, Nilesh Rane had won the seat as Congress candidate. He had defeated former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu of Shiv Sena. It was then considered as a major blow to Thackeray’s Sena.

Party sources revealed, “It has already taken a decision not to field Nilesh Rane. Instead, it feels Narayan Rane will be a better contestant.”