Narayan Rane-Uddhav Thackeray’s festering rivalry spills over

A close confidante of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, the BJP leader has never acknowledged the leadership of his son

From a surprise choice as Shiv Sena’s second Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1999 to becoming a first serving Union Cabinet Minister in the last 20 years to get arrested by a State government , is closely intertwined with that of his former party, so much so that his present political existence depends on his ability to counter Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister — and his arch-rival — Uddhav Thackeray. In 2005, Mr. Rane led a coup within the Sena against Uddhav Thackeray and his coterie. He had a reputation of being a muscle-man ingrained in the Sena’s political culture, an opposition leader whom the ministers in the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) feared and a close confidante of Sena founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray.