The recent Jan Ashirwad Yatra (JAY) led by Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane, sparked a row in the state of Maharashtra. Narayan Rane was arrested for his contentious comments over Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging him of forgetting the year of Independence. Immediately after the remarks made by Union Minister Narayan Rane, a massive outrage was sparked in Shiv Sena workers. The Jan Ashirwad Yatra (JAY) which was being run normally in Ratnagiri, took widespread publicity.
As examining the good tenure of Narayan Rane with the Shiv Sena and Congress in the past, he very well understands the politics in Maharashtra and is aware of what to speak where and when. In the state of Maharashtra where Shiv Sena is at power with BJP in its opposition, the comments made by him were expected to outrage the Shiv Sainiks and it surely did. The Union Minister got the required platform to come publically at a wider audience which may not have been achieved otherwise. Union Minister Narayan Rane made the headlines for two consecutive days and coming, and so did his Jan Ashirwad Yatra (JAY).
An academician belonging from the state of Maharashtra keeps a deep track on the state politics refusing to disclose his identity stated that, “The action after Union Minister Narayan Rane’s statement that is arresting him was not a necessary move. It should not be considered a mature move. The case has given much publicity to the Union Minister Narayan Rane, which he wanted. Which may go against the Shiv Sena as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2022 approach. There are many issues in the city of Mumbai piling up right now, including the Covid 19 situation, infrastructure projects and Metro which has now been affected by the stand of the government. At this peak time, the Rane episode should have been avoided.”
Professor Sangit Kumar Ragi from Delhi University of Political Science stated that it's quite not predictable that who has got the most benefit from the Rane episode. “I think that the Union Minister Narayan Rane, cannot harm Shiv Sena as his influence remains till some regions like Konkan and that too in a particular district. In the past times, when he served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the
Shiv Sena party he was crucial in the growth of the party. So he cannot influence the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2022.”
Image Courtesy: Twitter
Image Courtesy: BMC Elections: Union Minister Narayan Rane’s contentious statements against Shiv Sena can cut both ways for BJP