07 January,2009 10:48 AM IST | | PTI
Fuelling further the speculation about suspended Congress leader Narayan Rane's possible patch-up with the party leadership against whom he breathed fire, one of his close associates and Maharashtra PCC leaders met AICC chief Sonia Gandhi here on Tuesday.
Maharashtra PCC Chief Manikrao Thakre and Mumbai unit chief Kripa Shankar Singh had a meeting with Gandhi. Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, a close associate of Rane, also met Gandhi.
For his part, Rane, who had launched a scathing attack on the party high command and resigned from Maharashtra cabinet after losing the race for chief ministership, said he was having a rethink and considering a proposal by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to return to the government.
Rane, who was expected to make an announcement on his future political course but deferred it, told a Marathi television channel that "Chief Minister Chavan, whom I met, has proposed that I join the cabinet. I am considering his offer and that is why the announcement on my future move has been put off."
Asked if he was likely to meet the Congress high command which suspended him following his public outburst against the party leadership Rane said "I am still in Congress and can meet any high command leaders including Sonia Gandhi."
"Ashok Chavan (who succeeded Vilasrao Deshmukh) was and continues to be my friend," Rane added. Rane maintains he has not received any written communication by the high command about the disciplinary action against him, indicative of a possible rapprochement in view of coming elections.
