Three MLAs quit Sena, join Congress

Asked why the Sena legislators had chosen to join the Congress, Rau said that they had taken the decision because of their regard for the Congress ideology and its democratic traditions.

Rau did not allow the trio to speak to the media. 8216;8216;They won8217;t speak to you today. I am here to give their point of views,8217;8217; Rau said.

Asked if the three had been promised anything, Rau said the party would discuss suitable assignments for them at a later stage. Rau was ambiguous on whether the three Congress entrants would be given party ticket for the by-poll to their Assembly seats.

8216;8216;The Congress would definitely want to give them ticket for the by-poll,8217;8217; Rau said.

Rau told reporters that the three MLAs had resigned from primary membership of the Sena and from the Assembly. The three MLAs had earlier met Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar and submitted their resignations.

Later, Rane said they had also sent letters to Sena chief Bal Thackeray, stating that they were resigning. The Sena tally in the Assembly has now gone down from 62 to 59. Before Rane quit, the Sena had 63 legislators.