The other son

From launching water agitations to forcing taxis and autos off Mumbai roads,Nitesh Rane tries to build an independent political base....

From opposing the release of a Marathi film that reportedly portrayed his father and Revenue Minister Narayan Rane in a poor light to launching agitations against the Sena-BJP ruled BMC on water scarcity to forcing taxis and rickshaws off the road in the city last week,Nitesh Rane is making desperate attempts to make his presence felt on the political stage.

Nitesh,Ranes foreign-educated younger son,entered the public spotlight when his father quit the Shiv Sena in 2005. Along with his elder brother Nilesh,who is a Lok Sabha MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg,Nitesh used to accompany Rane in his press conferences. Nitesh is trying to create a base of his own, said a Congress functionary close to Rane.

Rane was said to be trying to get his son an Assembly nomination from Mumbai last year and later a berth in the Legislative Council. A doctors son becomes a doctor,a lawyers son becomes a lawyer,what is wrong in a politicians son entering politics? defended a Rane loyalist.

After his fathers exit from the Sena,Nitesh,who founded an NGO,Swabhimaan,has been consistently trying make his presence felt in Maharashtra politics. Nitesh,who also controls a magazine,Yuva,organised his fathers show of strength at Parel in 2008 on Swabhimaans third foundation day,where Rane targeted the then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Since Swabhimaan is a social organisation,there is no question of it entering the electoral fray. But we are confident that the flag of the party which we support will flutter atop the BMC in 2012, said Nitesh.

He tried to capitalise on one of the severest civic problems in Mumbai water crisis. However,his detractors feel that it has a lot to do with the BMC polls due in 2012 and his fathers ambition to control Indias richest civic body. The city has a demand for 4,250 MLD of water,but is currently getting 2,900 MLD daily after a water-cut was introduced last year. The agitation by Nitesh has led to a reduction in water pilferage. The tanker mafia is scared too, claimed Rane supporter Rajesh Hatale,adding that Swabhimaan had forced tanker owners to reduce their rates.

Nitesh has had his share of controversies too. In January this year,Niteshs opposition forced Avadhoot Gupte to change the name of a character in his movie,Jhenda,who bore resemblance to Rane. In May 2009,alleged Nitesh supporters ransacked the Andheri office of former corporator and union leader Jaywant Parab,a former associate of Rane who had fallen out with him. In June 2006,Nitesh was arrested and later released on a personal bond for allegedly driving his Mercedes over the foot of a constable at Carter Road.

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Ranes detractors are obviously not amused at Niteshs increased media presence. This is a political stunt, said Parab,referring to the decision of Niteshs supporters to force taxis and rickshaws off the roads to demand a fare hike in the wake of the CNG price increase. This will not help him politically. He Rane criticised Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his putraprem love for his son while quitting the Sena,what is Rane doing now? questioned Parab.

The Congress,meanwhile,is trying to wash its hands off protests launched by Swabhimaans taxi and rickshaw union which inconvenienced many Mumbaikars. The Congress is not related to Swabhimaan. The Congress does not support the organisation, said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre.