If political flexibility is everything, Narayan Rane's far ahead on the ideological arc than most of his contemporaries. The 69-year-old's entry into the Union cabinet in a BJP government today marks another of his many milestones on this path. The new Union minister, known for his earthy speeches and ambition, has by now been part of most key parties dominant in his corner of the world -- the Shiv Sena, the Congress, and now the BJP.