New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday suspended Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane for "gross indiscipline" following his public outburst against the party high command after he was ignored for the post of state chief minister.
"I have learnt from TV channels that I've been suspended from Congress, as nothing has been communicated to me," Rane said while addresing a press conference on Saturday.
"Congress leaders are selling nation for money. Congress doesn't like people with self-respect or people who work for people so I was sure they wouldn't keep me," added Rane.
While lashing out at Congress Rane said that the Government is in minority and cannot be formed without the support of his MLAs.
"I have 25 to 30 MLAs who support me. I can go to the Governor but I will not go to him for the sake of the state," he said.
Rane also verbally attacked former Mahsrashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, saying he had taken the state back by 20 years. He also accused Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel of corruption.
"Congress leaders like Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel were involved in scams of Videocon, Hudco, MHADA, MIDC among others," he said.
"I had 48 supporters in assembly, by number I should have won. If the decision was later attributed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, why did they ask MLAs for opinion in first place," he demaded.
Meanwhile, decision to suspend Rane comes a day after he attacked outgoing Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and chief minister-designate Ashok Chavan, as well as the party, at a hurriedly convened media briefing at his residence.
"It has been observed that after the announcement of the new leader of the CLP in Maharashtra, Narayan Rane is making public statements deliberately with a view to lowering the prestige of the Indian National Congress," said AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi.
"The party has taken a serious view of his utterances and considering this as a case of gross indiscipline, Narayan Rane has been suspended from the party with immediate effect," he said in a statement hours before Rane was scheduled to hold a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.
Rane, whose name was being considered for the top post after Deshmukh resigned on Wednesday in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, opted out of the race after the party leadership selected Industry Minister Ashok Chavan for the top job.
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