Former Congress MLA From Maharashtra Nitesh Rane Joins BJP

Nitesh Rane won the 2014 Assembly polls from Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district on Congress’ ticket by defeating the then BJP MLA Pramod Jathar.

(Photo: PTI)

Nitesh Rana, former Congress MLA from Maharashtra and son of former state Chief Minister Narayan Rane on Thursday, 3 October joined the BJP, ANI reported.

Narayan on Wednesday had said that his son Nitesh would contest the upcoming state Assembly polls from Kankavli seat on BJP’s ticket.

Talking to PTI, he claimed his son's name will figure in the second list of the BJP.

Nitesh Rane won the 2014 Assembly polls from Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district on Congress' ticket by defeating the then BJP MLA Pramod Jathar.

The ruling BJP on Tuesday declared its first list of 125 candidates for the 21 October state polls, including names of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state unit president Chandrakant Patil, but high-profile figures Eknath Khadse and Vindo Tawde were missing from it.

"Nitesh's name will figure in the second list and he will contest from Kankavli," Narayan Rane said.

From Sena to BJP Via Congress

On speculations of merging his Maharashtra Swabhiman Party with the BJP, Rane said, “It is likely to happen in a week’s time,” according to PTI.

The former state chief minister was earlier in the Shiv Sena, which he quit in 2005 and joined the Congress.

He remained with the Congress till 2017 following which he formed his own political outfit and became an ally of the ruling BJP.

He is currently the Rajya Sabha member on BJP's ticket.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)