Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, former Chief Minister Narayan Rane has raised concerns about the fragmented political landscape in the state, calling for introspection on whether such divisions serve the interests of the people. Rane, currently a BJP leader, criticized the instability created by shifting political ideologies and constituencies, arguing that it adversely affects the state’s economy and contributes to the rising fiscal deficit.
In a statement made on Saturday, Rane took aim at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He emphasized the need for political stability to ensure effective governance, suggesting that the constant reshuffling of power impairs the state’s economic growth and development.
“The repeated change in ideology and even constituency impacts the state’s economy, and the fiscal deficit is growing,” Rane told PTI. He suggested that the ruling coalition—Mahayuti, consisting of the BJP, the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP—holds an advantage in the upcoming elections due to BJP’s strong central leadership. However, he emphasized, “We need to introspect whether political fragmentation impacts people’s welfare and interests.”
Rane’s comments come in light of the recent political upheavals in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, who then allied with the BJP to form the current government. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also faced division last year when Ajit Pawar, alongside several MLAs, joined the Shinde-led government.
Maratha Quota Issue
On the sensitive issue of Maratha reservations, which has sparked widespread protests in Maharashtra, Rane pointed out the constitutional provisions under Articles 14 and 15(4) that allow the state government to conduct a survey to ascertain social, economic, and educational backwardness to grant reservations. Drawing on his experience as a former committee head on the Maratha quota, Rane mentioned that while previous attempts at reservations had followed proper procedures, they failed in court.
“The present demands of ‘Sage Soyre’ (blood relatives) and Kunbi certificates to Marathas will not stand in courts. There are 16 percent poor Marathas out of the total 34 percent population of the community,” Rane said, casting doubt on whether a caste-based survey would be effective.
He expressed concern over the growing caste divide, particularly in the Marathwada region, and emphasized the need for social harmony to address the issue. “India is moving on the path of development. With the survey, caste divides will grow. It is already seen in Marathwada, which is very sad,” Rane remarked, urging the government to focus on improving per capita income and employment opportunities to address the pressing issues of inflation.
Criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s Leadership
Rane, who parted ways with the then-unified Shiv Sena in 2005 due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray, was sharply critical of Thackeray’s leadership. He cited the recent Lok Sabha poll results, stating that the real Shiv Sena, according to him, is now aligned with Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister.
“Uddhav Thackeray couldn’t hold the original Shiv Sena together. Unlike Balasaheb Thackeray (Shiv Sena’s founder), he cannot keep the cadre and leaders united. Uddhav Thackeray has no future,” Rane claimed.
He further accused Thackeray of failing to deliver during his tenure as Chief Minister, alleging that Thackeray barely attended the Mantralaya (state secretariat) and neglected the administration. “Uddhav did not work for the people, hence he had to go,” Rane asserted.
He praised the Mahayuti government for expediting development projects and criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which was led by Uddhav Thackeray, for what he described as a lack of significant accomplishments during its tenure. Rane contended that the grassroot connection of Mahayuti leaders, including Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, makes them popular with the public.
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“The Mahayuti will win the state polls. Those who work for the people will last, and those who don’t will be sent packing,” Rane confidently stated, predicting that Uddhav Thackeray’s political career would soon be over.
Development and MSME Sector
Rane also touched upon the importance of development work, noting that a stable government is essential for boosting Maharashtra’s GDP and completing ongoing projects. He dismissed claims from the opposition about the decline of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, stating that the central government has been actively supporting MSMEs with loans and technological upgrades.
“There are seven crore MSME businesses and 15-16 crore workers in the sector,” Rane said, highlighting the role of the central government in upgrading MSMEs to enhance their productivity.
Rane’s remarks underscore his belief that political fragmentation harms governance and that Maharashtra’s future lies in unified, stable leadership. With the assembly elections fast approaching, his statements have added another layer of complexity to the already turbulent political environment in the state.
