Pune: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil on Friday ruled out former Congress leader Narayan Rane’s entry in the BJP. He said Rane was not in touch with any BJP leader.
Patil said in fact, such discussions about inducting Rane in the BJP did not happen at the core committee meeting of the BJP.
A few days ago, Chandrakant Patil had publicly appealed to Narayan Rane to join the BJP. He also announced to give up one of his portfolios to induct the latter in the State Cabinet.
Patil was speaking to media persons in Pune on Friday on the sidelines of a function organised by Atlas Copco (India) Ltd under its corporate social responsibility initiative to felicitate water conservators.
Patil’s comment on Rane not joining the BJP came when the latter resigned from the primary membership of the Congress and quit the post of MLC two days ago. There were speculations that Rane was in touch with senior BJP leaders to join the party after he announced his decision of leaving the Congress on Thursday.
However, BJP’s alliance partner, the Shiv Sena put its foot down and warned the BJP not to entertain Rane or else it will destabilise the State government. The BJP then made a U-turn on the issue.
When it was brought to the notice of Patil that he had appealed to Rane to join BJP and why the party was now distancing itself from Rane, Patil said his statement was misinterpreted.
The BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saw an opportunity to use the Rane card to corner the Shiv Sena. They started hobnobbing with Rane and offered him a plum ministry.
However, finally, Rane has been left in the lurch with no option but to leave the Congress and form a separate group waiting for a call from the BJP.
