However, the BJP has termed it a "courtesy visit".
Rane, who had held important portfolios in the previous Congress-led UPA governments, has reportedly been in sulk for quite some time.
The latest cause for his discontent is said to be keeping him away from the political developments in Goa, where his party has missed the chance to form government despite emerging the single largest party in Assembly elections.
Rawal, who was in Ratnagiri today, met Rane senior at his residence.
Also Read
When asked whether Rane is joining the BJP, the state unit BJP spokesperson Madhu Chavan dismissed the speculation.
"Rawal is a Tourism Minister. He is visiting Ratnagiri as the city is a key tourist destination. Rawal paid only a courtesy visit to Rane as he is a former chief minister as well as a senior leader in Maharashtra. One should not read too much in such meetings," Chavan said.
Nilesh had last month stepped down as the general secretary of the Maharashtra unit of the Congress as a mark of protest against keeping vacant the post of Ratnagiri district Congress president for the last two years.
However, senior Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, had earlier clarified that he was not going to leave the Congress and had blamed his 'detractors' in the party for spreading such rumour.
BJP insiders said that Rane could prove a 'prize catch' for the party, which is desperate to consolidate its position across the state ahead of the next polls.
"We hardly have any rural face with a statewide appeal in Maharashtra. If the BJP decides to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone in 2019 (sans Shiv Sena), leaders like Rane would be an asset for the party. Rane is resourceful and could be useful in some neighbouring constituencies for the BJP," a party functionary said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content