Saturday, July 30 2005 14:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Expelled Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane formally joined the Congress party here (Mumbai) today (July 30, 2005).

"I will strive rest of my life following the Congress ideals and uphold the dignity of the tricolour," Rane said while speaking at a function held at Tilak Bhavan here.

Rane thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for welcoming him into the party fold.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was present at the function, said, "Rane's vast experience in the state politics would be used to strengthen the party."

Rane and his supporters, who joined the Congress today, would be treated with dignity, Deshmukh added.

Rane was expelled from Shiv Sena on July 23.

MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Prabha Rau, former MPCC president Ranjit Deshmukh and former state Chief Minister A R Antulay were also present on the occasion.

Rane will be inducted into the cabinet later in the evening, party sources said.