PANAJI: Mr Vishwajit Rane, the Health Minister, has denied the reports that he was joining the Congress party.

Mr Rane told The Navhind Times late on Tuesday evening that he has not applied his mind to the issue nor has he been asked by anyone to join the Congress camp.

Following the entry of the Taleigao MLA and the Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate in the Congress, reports have been doing rounds that the Rane junior was expected to join the ruling party sooner than later.

A PTI report from New Delhi said that Mr Vishwajeet Rane will soon be joining the Congress. Congress sources said Mr Rane, who had contested as an Independent from Valpoi constituency, met Mr Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to the party chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, as also the AICC general-secretary, Mr B K Hariprasad on Monday.

He is expected to seek re-election as a Congress candidate after resigning his seat, the PTI report said.