Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080856130900.htm

National

Narayan Rane meets Margaret Alva

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane met All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of the State Margaret Alva here.

He also apprised her of his differences with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Letter to Sonia

He told journalists after the meeting that he had written a letter to party president Sonia Gandhi and resigned.

Asked when he did so, he refused to give details.

Caution to leaders

Mr. Rane said he had told the central leadership that if the party were to contest the next Lok Sabha election under the leadership of Mr. Deshmukh it would lose.

He said he would also meet Ms. Gandhi, who is on a tour of China, and apprise her of the developments.

Mr. Rane, a former Chief Minister, had quit the Shiv Sena to join the Congress.