M A I N   N E W S

Rane to bring 6 Shiv Sena MPs into Cong fold

New Delhi, November 24
Having registered a spectacular victory in Malvan, Maharashtra Minister Narayan Rane has now promised to deliver at least six Shiv Sena MPs and 10 legislators to the Congress.

Mr Rane, who was in the Capital for a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, told presspersons that the dissident Shiv Sainiks were in touch with Congress leaders and could join the party shortly. He, however, refused to give any more details. Although he has consistently promised further defections from the Shiv Sena legislature party in Maharashtra, this is the first time that Mr. Rane has spoken of defections from among its MPs.

Mr Rane, who was a leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and a prominent Shiv Sena leader, had created ripples earlier this year when he walked out to join the Congress. — TNS

New Karachi Consul-General

New Delhi, November 24
Navdeep Suri, at present Joint Secretary (Africa) in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed India’s new Consul-General in Karachi, according to official sources. India and Pakistan have decided to reopen their consulates in Karachi and Mumbai following a steady improvement in bilateral ties over the past two years. — IANS