Patil discusses UP situation with Sonia

New Delhi, Feb 17 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and discussed the political situation in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling disqualifying 13 BSP MLAs whose support sustained the Mulayam Singh government during the past three years.

Mr Patil's meeting with Ms Gandhi at her official 10 Janpath residence lasted 20 minutes Bus. Congress sources refused to give the details of the discussion, only indicating that the visit of Mr Patil was mainly to apprise her of the political situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, there were reports that Uttar Pradesh Governor V Rajeswar sent his report to the Centre on the latest situation in the state.

Ms Gandhi also had a long discussion with her political secretary Ahmed Patel and senior ministers on the issue.

The Core Committee of the Congress Party last night had a meeting to review the situation in the light of the apex court's ruling.

Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, Patil and Kapil Sibal attended the meeting.

Though the Congress camp was upbeat about the demand for the dismissal of the Mulayam Singh government, the Left parties were opposed to any such move saying that the floor of the Assembly must be the forum to test the strength of a government.

UNI