Nilesh Rane dares Sadavarte to put in writing that Shinde will not be CM

Well-known lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will never become chief minister. Following the claim, the Shinde faction has been sharply criticising Sadavarte. Shinde Sena leader and MLA Nilesh Rane has issued him a direct challenge.

Rane's challenge is that Sadavarte should give in writing that Eknath Shinde will not become chief minister, and that if Shinde does, he will give up all his property. All eyes are now on whether Sadavarte accepts the challenge.

Speaking to the media, Rane said Eknath Shinde first became chief minister in 2022. Even before that, people used to say Shinde would not become chief minister, but he did. Rane asked whether Maharashtra runs on predictions. He said his party now has MPs, MLAs and hundreds of corporators. "If a leader will not become chief minister in such a situation, then when will he?" he asked. Rane also said his Shiv Sena is the second-largest party in Maharashtra. If anyone says Shinde will never become chief minister, he should write that down, and also write that if Shinde does not, "we will give up all our property", Rane said.

Rane also spoke of his own wish. He said he wants Eknath Shinde to become chief minister of Maharashtra. According to him, Shinde served his term as a successful chief minister, and he wants to see him in the chief minister's chair once again. Rane said Devendra Fadnavis is at a high level and is also their leader, but as a party worker and Shiv Sainik, his view is that Shinde should become chief minister again.

Rane also commented on a statement by Raj Thackeray. MNS president Raj Thackeray had said Devendra Fadnavis should be kept in the state until at least 2029. Rane said Raj Thackeray is a big leader and his party is very large, with many corporators, MLAs and MPs. He added that the MNS also has a large organisation in other states. Rane said in a light-hearted jibe that "we will have to think about whether to make predictions or not".

Uddhav Thackeray has decided to launch an agitation against the Election Commission. Rane took a swipe at this too. He said the agitation against the Election Commission, and the idea for it, is not Thackeray's. According to Rane, the idea belongs to Abhijit Deepke, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and these people stole it. Rane said they have no work now and are all sitting idle.