In a development that came two days after he floated new political outfit “Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha” (MSP), former Chief Minister Narayan Rane said here on Tuesday night that he had been invited by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to join the BJP-led NDA, thus igniting the possibility of his induction into the State Cabinet.
Talking to media persons after meeting Fadnavis at the latter’s official bungalow “Varsha”, Rane said: “The Chief Minister formally invited me to join the NDA. I will convey my decision in this regard to the Chief Minister in the next two days”
Though Rane claimed that he had not discussed with Fadnavis the issue of his induction into the State Cabinet, informed sources that Fadnavis would in all likelihood offer him a berth in his Cabinet.
The meeting between Rane and Fadnavis lasted for half an hour.
Tuesday’s was an expected development. While announcing the formation of new political party, Rane had himself said that if invited, the MSP would join the NDA.
Queried specifically if his party would join the NDA, Rane had said on Sunday: “let my party get formed first. Then, if someone asks me if my party would join them, then we would formally say we will join”. He had also said that it was for Fadnavis to decide on whom to induct as a new Minister in his Cabinet.
Now with his induction into the State Cabinet becoming imminent, it remains to be seen as to what portfolio he would land in the impending Cabinet expansion. Though he is eyeing for the State Revenue portfolio, it is quite unlikely that he would be given this portfolio, considering that senior BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil handles the portfolio currently.
Rane, it may be recalled, had quit the Congress on September 21 and announced the formation of MSP on Sunday. It had become more or less certain that he would join the NDA.