New Delhi, Sept 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi last night inquired over telephone the condition of ailing BSP supremo Kashi Ram, who has been admitted to a private hospital here following brain stroke. "The leader of opposition rang up and inquired about the BSP leader's health", party spokesman Anand Sharma told a news agency but said no political significance should be attached to a humanitarian gesture.

Ever since the BSP-BJP alliance broke down in Uttar Pradesh, a section of party leadership has been talking about a Congress-BSP tie-up in the state and at the national level to "take on communal and casteist forces." The party's decision not to join the Samajwadi Party led coalition government in UP and support it only from outside was also seen in this perspective.

Kanshi Ram suffered an attack of right hemiparesis on September 15 morning in hyderabad and was admitted to Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences.

From Hyderbad, he was brought to Delhi on September 15 night and was admitted to a private hospital.

Bureau Report