Rane considering CM’s proposal to join cabinet in Maharashtra

Former Maharashtra minister and suspended Congress leader Narayan Rane on Tuesday said he was considering a proposal by the new Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to join his cabinet.

Rane,who was expected to make an announcement on his future political course but deferred it,told a Marathi television channel that,“The Chief Minister Chavan,whom I met,has proposed that I join the cabinet. I am considering his offer and that is why the announcement on my future move is put off.” Asked if he was likely to meet Congress high command which suspended him following his public outburst against the party leadership for not being made the CM,Rane said,” I am still in Congress and can meet any high command leaders including Sonia Gandhi.” Ashok Chavan (who succeeded Vilasrao Deshmukh ) was and continues to be my friend,Rane added.

On his relations with his bete noire Vilasrao Deshmukh,Rane said,”I have nothing personal against anybody. But sometimes bitterness is created when I speak in the interest of the state.”

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Under suspension by the party,Rane has maintained that he has not received any written communication by the high command about the disciplinary action announced against him from New Delhi,indicative of a possible rapprochement in view of the forthcoming elections.

A former Shiv Sena Chief Minister during the saffron rule,Rane wields influence in the Konkan region.