Wednesday, July 13 2005 17:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Congress today (July 13, 2005) said expelled Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane was welcome to join the party and it was now for him to take a decision.

AICC (All India Congress Committee) 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 party office in presence of MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) Chief Prabha Rau, Deshmukh said his discussions with Rane on the issue were hopeful.

When pointed that Rane had expressed to prefer a party whose path is smoother, the Chief Minister, in a lighter vein said, "It was difficult to find which path is smoother in the monsoon."

On his yesterday's (July 12, 2005) statement 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 Opposition.