Narayan Rane steps down as Maharashtra opposition chief

Senior Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane on Saturday announced that he is stepping down as leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly.

"Going by the recent developments in the party, I have come to the conclusion that the party doesn't require my services, so I have decided to step down," Rane told reporters at his official residence.

However, Rane made it clear that he had no intentions of leaving the Sena.

Rane said he would hand over his resignation to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Sunday.

Rane said the last time he met the Sena chief was on June 27. "There have been meetings of party's legislators and workers but I have not been invited to these meetings recently," Rane said.

"I was the topic of the meeting called at `Matoshree', on Friday, where in Shiv Sena office bearers from my Sindhudurg district were invited," Rane said adding, that he was not invited for the meeting.

Rane said there was no question of his quitting the Sena. "I have been a Shiv Sainik for around three decades, half of which were as a party worker on the street," he said.

Rane said he had not held any meetings or discussions with leaders from other parties.

Asked if the Sena chief's son and the party executive president Uddhav Thackeray was unhappy with him, Rane said, "He is the party executive president. He must be feeling that my suggestions are not required."