MUMBAI: Narayan Rane, nursing old wounds but ready to take up a new fight, is camping in his Lok Sabha constituency, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, from where his two sons are contesting the assembly elections. While former MP Nilesh Rane (Shiv Sena) will replace sitting MP Vaibhav Naik (Shiv Sena-UBT) in Kudal, Nitesh Rane (BJP) is contesting against Sandesh Parkar (Sena-UBT) in Kankavali.

Rane, a BJP MP, is a former Maharashtra chief minister and a political warhorse. He has been accused of dynastic politics in the Konkan, particularly in Malvan, and is known for boldly brandishing his authority in the region. His pet peeve, however, is Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, who he says deserves no sympathy despite the bitter rift between the parent Shiv Sena in 2022. In an exclusive interview at Yogesh NaikRane also spoke about making Sindhudurg a model district. Excerpts:

In light of the Shiv Sena split, do you think Uddhav Thackeray will win the sympathy of Sena voters?

Why should Uddhav receive sympathy? What did he do for two and a half years when he was CM? Not a single development project moved during his mandate. Narayan Rane, Ganesh Naik and Chhagan Bhujbal left the Sena. Has Uddhav Thackeray ever wondered why? We all left because of him.

The Konkan is considered the backbone of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Many Sainiks along with Bal Thackeray were from this region. How will the Konkan vote this time?

Few people are currently with the Sena (UBT). I left them a long time ago, as did my followers. There are many others like me. Ganesh Naik left them. As a result, the Konkan people, including Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Raigad, are no longer loyal to Uddhav’s party. He no longer has any weight left to rebuild the party.

The collapse of the Shivaji statue in Malvan in August drew criticism from the BJP and the Sena. There was a huge protest by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) at Rajkot Fort.

The MVA brought only 25 people for the demonstration. I was present at Rajkot Fort and did not allow MVA leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray, to emerge for two hours. NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil and the district police commissioner asked me to relent. I did, provided they left safely, and they did. They should be ashamed of calling themselves Sainiks.

What impact will the Maratha agitation have on the outcome of the Mahayuti elections?

This will have no impact on the Konkan.

What about its impact in Marathwada, where the agitation began?

This might impact Marathwada but not Konkan.

Who will become chief minister if Mahayuti returns to power?

Why is the media trying to drive a wedge between us? We are fighting elections together and we are doing well. Our leaders in Delhi will take a decision on this.

Sena (UBT) leaders accuse you of dynastic politics. You are an MP here and both your sons were fielded in the assembly elections, one from the Sena and the other from the BJP.

What about Uddhav Thackeray? He took over from Balasaheb, and now there is Aaditya. They also bring Tejas (Uddhav’s younger son). Their only claim to fame is that they are the sons of Uddhav Thackeray. And Sharad Pawar? Isn’t this also a dynastic policy? He has a dozen close friends in politics. In the Congress, since the days of Nehru, there have been at least 11 political leaders from the family.

How many women from Sindhudurg have been covered by the Ladki Bahin programme?

Coverage was 100 percent. We have a good history of giving back to people.

Tourism in Sindhudurg district is doing very well, but much more needs to be done to develop infrastructure and industry there. As a result, people from Sindhudurg continue to migrate to Goa for work.

The per capita income in Sindhudurg is ₹2.5 lakh, well above Vidarbha and Marathwada, where it is located ₹1 million to ₹1.25 million. I intend to raise it to ₹3.5 lakh over the next two years. To create jobs, I will have to set up 500 to 1,000 large factories in the region. We have the land, water supply and electricity for this. Our neighborhood is also connected by an airport and we have a port nearby. Another advantage is the literacy rate, which is 98%. Sindhudurg district can become a model district in terms of development.