Shiv Sena's Nilesh Rane slams BJP spokesperson, asks him to stay within his limits

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Nilesh Rane on Friday targeted BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban for attacking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde following setbacks to the BJP in the Legislative Council polls, saying he should stay within his limits.

The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are the constituents of the ruling Mahyuti alliance in the state. However, fissures have emerged in the coalition after the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three out of five seats in the biennial elections, including the Nagpur Graduates' seat in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's hometown.

"Navnath Ban, stay within your limits while speaking about Shinde saheb. You speak beyond your stature," said Rane, who represents the Kudal assembly constituency.


After the BJP's losses in the Pune and Nagpur Graduates' constituencies, Ban, a close aide of CM Fadnavis, had slammed the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He claimed that had the Sena supported the BJP and the NCP, the Mahayuti could have won all five seats.

Since then, the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been exchanging barbs over the defeat,

Incidentally, Nilesh Rane's brother Nitesh Rane, a BJP leader and a cabinet minister, had said on Thursday that it should be seen whether there were any "Shakuni mamas" within Mahayuti in the wake of the results of the Council elections.

Polling for Pune Graduates', Nagpur Graduates', Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates', Pune Teachers' and Amravati Teachers' constituencies took place on October 23, and results were declared on October 28.

The Congress won the Nagpur Graduates' seat, while the NCP (SP) bagged the Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates' seats. The BJP secured the Pune Teachers' seat, and the Amravati Teachers' seat went to the Shiv Sena.