Cong ''in touch'' with MP's suspended BJP MLAs

Bhopal, July 11 (UNI) The Congress is ''in touch'' with the BJP's five suspended MLAs in Madhya Pradesh to obtain support for UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil who visited this city today.

Legislator and former Minister Sajjan Singh Verma's said this to journalists after a local meeting of Congress MPs, MLAs and other parties' public representatives supporting Ms Patil, who is drumming up support in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, neighbouring Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh ahead of the July 19 presidential election.

''We are hopeful of a positive response,'' Mr Verma added.

Dr Gaurishankar Shejwar, Mr Hakam Singh Chadar, Mr Jalam Singh Patel, Mr Sunil Nayak and Mr Rasal Singh, who were suspended for indiscipline, are believed to be close to Bharatiya Janshakti Founder-President and former chief minister Uma Bharti.

However, at a press conference here on Monday, Mr Nayak had claimed, ''all five of us are from the RSS background and cannot support the presidential candidate of the Congress and the Left parties.'' UNI