Narayan Rane’s new party, Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh, will join NDA

He is likely to be inducted into the state cabinet as a minister

Former chief minister Narayan Rane, who recently floated a new political outfit Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh (MSP), formally announced his decision to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party.

Former chief minister Narayan Rane (HT)

He is likely to be inducted into the state cabinet as a minister.

Announcing his decision at a press conference at Kudal in Sindhudurg on Friday, he said that they would be a part of the alliance at the state-level.

“The decision about MSP joining NDA at the national-level will be taken during the 2019 general elections. I have not demanded any particular department as the call has to be taken by Fadnavis and the BJP,” he said.

Rane said that the flag and constitution of the party would be finalized soon.

Rane, who formed the party a week ago after quitting the Congress, had met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday. Responding to a formal offer by Fadnavis to join the NDA, Rane had said he would take a call in couple of days.

Though Rane skirted the topic about the portfolio in the cabinet, he has been vying for key departments such as revenue, urban development and housing.

He had said two days ago that he expects the CM to respect his seniority as the former chief minister.

He had also said that there was no need to wait for the reshuffle of the state cabinet and he could be sworn in alone.

After being in the Congress for 12 years, Rane quit the party two weeks ago alleging it did not keep its promise to make him chief minister.

He was in talks with the BJP for a couple of months to join the party but it offered him a seat on the power table only as an ally. The formula was finalised after Rane met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi last month.