Two more independents in UPA's kitty

Two independent MPs from Maharashtra have met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and pledged support to the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.

According to Congress party sources, Sadashiv Mandlik (Kolhapur) and Baliram Jadhav (Palghar) on Tuesday met Gandhi separately in New Delhi. They were accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and state unit president Manikrao Thakre.

The third independent Raju Shetty of Shetkari Sanghatna, who defeated Nationalist Congress Party's sitting MP Nivedita Mane in Hatkanangale Lok Sabha seat in Kolhapur district, is yet to convey his decision.

Jadhav belongs to the Bahujan Vikas Party, a political outfit of sitting MLA Hitendra Thakur. He defeated the Congress candidate in Palghar while Mandlik, once a close confidante of Sharad Pawar and sitting MP from Kolhapur, rebelled after he was denied the party ticket.

He trounced NCP's official candidate in Kolhapur constituency.