Rane welcome to join party, says Congress

Congress today said expelled Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane was welcome to join the party and it was now for him to take a decision.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Margaret Alva has already said Rane was welcome in the party, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said, adding, "It was upto Rane to take a decision on it."

Speaking at the party office in the presence of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Prabha Rau, Deshmukh said his discussions with Rane on the issue were hopeful.

When it was pointed out that Rane had expressed preference for a party whose path was smoother, the chief minister, in a lighter vein, said: "It was difficult to find which path was smoother in the monsoon."

On his statement yesterday in the Lower House that the ruling party would stand behind Rane, Deshmukh said the Opposition was trying to isolate Rane in the House and as leader of the ruling alliance he had just extended all support to the former leader of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar today sought an explanation from 23 Shiv Sena MLAs whose disqualification was sought by expelled Sena leader Rane through a petition.

Rane had sought their disqualification for failing to attend the meeting of Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP) convened by him, as the leader of the Opposition, on July 8.

Sena chief whip Gajanan Kirtikar confirmed that the MLAs had received the notices and the party would seek legal opinion and accordingly replies would be submitted.

The Speaker has asked the 23 MLAs to clarify the reasons for their not attending the July 8 meet, convened by Rane who was then the leader of the Opposition.

Rane's supporter Vinayak Nimhan, who at that time was recognised as chief whip by the Speaker, had issued a directive regarding the meeting.

Meanwhile, 49 MLAs attended a meeting of the SSLP held today, Kirtikar said adding that three MLAs had informed that they would not be attending the meeting due to ill-health.

Sena MLAs, supporting Rane would have to sign the resolution electing Ramdas Kadam as SSLP leader, he said, adding, "action will be taken against them if they did not sign".