Upset with CM, Narayan Rane threatens to quit

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday threatened to quit Vilasrao Deshmukh-led coalition government and launched a fresh attack on the latter's style of functioning alleging 'it is serving the interests of one man'.

"This government is not for the common man but to serve the interests of one man," Rane, at loggerheads with the chief minister, told media persons at the Mantralaya, leaving no doubt for guessing who the 'one man' he was referring to.

The immediate provocation for Rane's tirade against Deshmukh is apparently the approval of land allotment for Videocon group's Rs 8,000 crore Liquid Crystal Display panel manufacturing project in the state by the state cabinet on Tuesday.

In the cabinet meeting, Rane was apparently involved in a verbal duel with Deshmukh, saying the land for the project is being given at a far lesser price than the market price.

"I will meet the Congress high command soon and offer to resign from this government, which is not doing anything for the common man but working to further interests of industrialists," Rane, who in his three years in Congress has failed to unseat Deshmukh from the CM's post, said.

Both Deshmukh and Videocon Chairman V N Dhoot hail from Marathwada region and Rane is expected to highlight their 'nexus' when he meets the party leadership.