Expelled Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane, who joined the Congress on Saturday, was sworn in as a Cabinet minister.

Governor S M Krishna administered the oath to Rane at the Raj Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil. 

• Rane formally joins Congress

Rane told reporters after the swearing in ceremony that he had been offered the post of a Cabinet minister at the Centre by the Congress, but he declined it.

"This is not the time for me to go to the Centre. I have decided to serve the people of Maharashtra," he said.

Asked if he would be allocated the Revenue portfolio, Rane said: "It is up to the chief minister. I hope to get a portfolio this evening itself."