Speaking to press persons here recently, the Minister, however, said that no decision has been taken about the stance to be taken during the State Assembly elections slated early next year.

Patil said that the political process will speed up only after the dates for the Lok Sabha elections are announced. He said that so far, no decision has been taken as to whether the independents should contest a Lok Sabha or whether the saffron alliance should reserve a Lok Sabha seat for the independents seats. After the announcement of the election dates, a meeting of the independent MLAs will be convened to decide their policy, he said.

Patil said about 20 to 25 MLAs were supporting the ruling the saffron alliance and added that all of them will unitedlycontest the State Assembly polls. He said that there was no possibility of these MLAs returning to the Congress fold. In Rajasthan, the Congress party had admitted the independent MLAs into the party-fold but had not given them party candidatures, he said.

Patil said that a meeting of all independents supporting the ruling alliance will be held in Mumbai. He said it was doubtful whether the Congress would give its associate membership to the independent MLAs.