Three Shiv Sena legislators supporting Maharashtra Revenue Minister and former Sena leader Narayan Rane resigned from the Assembly on Friday amidst speculations that they might join the Congress.

The three legislators Subhash Bane, Shankar Kambli and Ganpat Kadam met Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar at his office in Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai and tendered their resignations. Congress party sources claimed the three, "...are scheduled to join the party on Friday."

All three are from Konkan region from where Rane hails. Rane joined Congress following his expulsion from Shiv Sena in July. Bane was elected from Sangameshwar Assembly seat, Kambli from Vengurla and Kadam from Rajapur. One of Rane's aide told PTI that the three had faxed their resignation letters to Sena leadership.

Photograph: UNI