Rivals Narayan Rane & Uddhav Thackeray Call Shots Against One Another As Both Share Stage In Maharashtra

Narayan Rane Vs Uddhav Thackeray: Both the leaders shared a stage for the first time in 16 years. There was a lot of indirect taunting going on between the two.

Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray and Union Minister Narayan Rane were present in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra for the inauguration of a new airport. The two leaders, who are known to be at loggerheads with each other shared a stage for the first time in 16 years. 

Narayan Rane, who is the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, was arrested in August 2021 after he made comments about "slapping" Uddhav Thackeray. He is out on bail.

It was the first time in 20 years, that a cabinet minister was arrested by the police in any case. 

Watch the video in Marathi

Uddhav-Rane War Of Words

Both Uddhav and Rane are known for having a history. It is said that Uddhav Thackeray was the one who engineered Rane's exit from the ShivSena. Nonetheless, both invoked and remembered Bal Thackeray in their speeches to take potshots against each other. 

"Balasaheb Thackeray never liked one thing. He did not like liars. He did not let liars stand in front of him," said Rane as heard on ABP Majha. 

Uddhav Thackeray in reply, said, "Yes, Balasaheb Thackeray did not like lying. Many times such people were kicked out of the Shiv Sena. He (Bal Thackeray) would say, 'Even if the truth is bitter, please say it."

Uddhav Thackeray and Narayan Rane, who are staunch opponents of each other, were coming on the same stage on the occasion of Chipi Airport's inauguration. Union Minister Narayan Rane was seated on the right side of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Pawar was seated on the left side.

The event was attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia by video conferencing.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Thackeray and Rane lit lamps together. Union Minister Narayan Rane, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Industry Minister Subhash Desai and Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray were present on the occasion.

The Chipi airport is expected to boost the tourism economy of Sindhudurg and the rest of Konkan coast.