BJP supports independent in MP

Guna, MP, Nov 18 (UNI) In the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Guna candidate Gopilal Jatav's nomination papers being rejected during scrutiny, the BJP has decided to support independent candidate Jagdish Khatik who entered saffron party ranks today.

Mr Jatav, who found himself out of the race as he paid his deposit in Bamhori constituency, appealed to the Election Commission and the Madhya Pradesh High Court's Gwalior bench but in vain.

''Mr Khatik's poll symbol is a coconut,'' the BJP's District President Radheshyam Parik told mediapersons here today. Besides the BJP, seven parties and nine independents -- excluding Mr Khatik -- are in the fray for Guna. In the battle for 230 seats, the BJP has left Bahoriband to Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak of the Janata Dal (United).

UNI XC-AC 1850