No substitute for Rane in Sena

MUMBAI: It''s Take Two which Narayan Tatu Rane is not going to relish in particular. The former chief minister and Shiv Sena leader, who has missed the CM''s gaddi yet again, is ready to take on the Congress-NCP government as leader of the opposition for a second consecutive term.
Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday formally announced the party decision to retain Rane in his position in the new assembly.Thackeray''s announcement has put an end to speculation in the Sena whether party strategist Subhash Desai would be handpicked by ''Matoshree'' to be Rane''s successor in the assembly. Desai is said to be close to Sena''s working president Uddhav Thackeray. The plot thickened when Desai won the Goregaon assembly seat opposite NCP''s Sharad Rao.
Following the saffron combine''s defeat there were muted talks in the party that Desai would be propped by a section of partymen which owes allegiance to Uddhav Thackeray for some sabre rattling with Rane a post debacle fall-out.
However, Rane kept a low profile, while Desai was quick to issue a statement stating that he had no reason to covet the former''s post and that he was willing to work as Rane''s colleague in the assembly.