Mumbai, Jan 16: The independent MLAs and legislators of smaller parties today extended support to Sushil Kumar Shinde, new leader of the Maharashtra Congress legislature party. Speaking to reporters, the independents said they met Shinde and offered him their unflinching support.

The independents said they also apprised both Shinde and AICC observers about their problems and received an assurance that they would be looked into.

"Shinde has assured us that we would be consulted," they said.

The independents, who met Shinde today, included Ajit Ghorpade, Digambar Bagal, Vinayakrao Jadhav, Shivajirao Kardile, Babasaheb Gorthekar, Vasant Itkilwar, Dharamrao Baba Atram and Sanjay Deshmukh.

Dashrath Bhande, Ramdas Bodke and Vasant Suryavanshi from the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (B) and Pappu Kalani and Hitendra Thakur from the smaller parties were also among those who met Shinde. Bureau Report