Friday, July 22 2005 16:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, expelled from the Shiv Sena recently, is likely to join Congress after a meeting with party Chief Sonia Gandhi today( July 22, 2005).

An indication to this effect was given by a senior Congress leader, in touch with Rane, who said that the 'mission will be successful'.

The leader said that Congress has assured the former Shiv Sena leader that he would be accommodated in the organisation suitably if he decided to join the party.

Both Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are wooing Rane, who is currently on his third visit to the capital after parting ways with the Shiv Sena.

The visit assumes significance following Rane's statement that he would decide this week whether to join Congress or NCP.

Rane has said that he would be announcing his future course of action in Mumbai tomorrow (July 23, 2005).