#Battle For Maharashtra : Former Chief Minister Narayan Rane Joins BJP, Merges Party Also

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Just days ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls on October 21, former Chief Minister Narayan Rane has in a sudden move merged s Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) with the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Rane was a member of Shiv Sena and opposition leader of Vidhan Sabha until July 2005, before he joined Indian National Congress party. He quit Congress in September 2017, and launched the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha. In 2018, he declared support for Bharatiya Janata Party, and was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP nomination.

Simultaneously, Rane and his two sons, BJP candidate from Kankavali Nitesh and former Congress MP Nilesh, also formally joined the ruling party.

Going a step further, Fadnavis also addressed an election rally in favour of Nitesh Rane who was the sitting Congress MLA before he quit the party recently, leaving many red faces in the Sena which had bitterly opposed the Chief Minister”s visit to Kankavali last week.

A massive tug-of-war was witnessed between the two allies in the past few days with the Ranes proclaiming Fadnavis would come to campaign in Kankavali, and the Sena”s ministers dismissively saying it would never happen.

“All eyes were on this (merger) for a long timea It has finally happened today. There is hardly any competition herea The BJP will benefit hugely with the Ranesa¿ entry to the party,” Fadnavis said.