With former chief minister Narayan Rane at the crossroads after being expelled from the Shiv Sena, the Congress has given the task of winning him over to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Sources said Deshmukh, apart from undertaking to protect Rane’s interests in the Konkan region where he enjoys a massive support, has promised him a suitable slot, possibly a ministerial berth at the Centre. The Congress stepped up efforts to get Rane into its fold after realising the stakes. The NCP, itching for a pre-eminent role in Maharashtra, plotted Rane’s revolt against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. The NCP, which has an edge over the Congress — 72 to 69 — in the Assembly, worked on Rane to bolster its strength. The Congress suspects that if the NCP’s ranks swell further, it would stake claim to the chief ministership. All 10 MLAs who rallied behind him are expected to retain their seats in the event of bypolls if they resign from the Assembly. Making no secret of the Congress desperation, Deshmukh listed the advantages to the former Sena leader if he joins them. “I, as also Maharashtra Congress president Prabha Rau, have appealed to Rane to join the Congress. Ours is a national party which takes everyone along.’’ Deshmukh today conferred with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, treasurer Motilal Vora and Minister of State Suresh Pachauri. Sources said NCP chief Sharad Pawar is working on people around Rane to motivate him to reject Congress overtures and join his party. The NCP hopes rest on a feeling that trained as a regional party leader, Rane would feel more at home with them. The accessibility of Pawar, compared to Sonia, is another factor. It, however, does not have much to offer as an immediate reward to Rane, except the state party presidency. While Rane would be enjoying the attention, the issue has added to the mistrust which marks the relationship between the Congress and the NCP. Sena whip to make MLAs fall in line Mumbai: In a bid to make 10 party MLAs who had rallied behind expelled leader Narayan Rane fall in line, Shiv Sena on Saturday issued a whip to all its 62 MLAs to attend the Assembly session from July 19 to 21. The 10 MLAs supporting Rane have not shown up in the House since July 12 when Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar upheld the election of Ramdas Kadam as the leader of the Sena legislature party.
