Uma in MP makes Gaur rush to Delhi

With Uma Bharati planning a major ‘‘announcement’’ for her April 21 rally at Amarkantak to fight back efforts to sidelin...

With Uma Bharati planning a major ‘‘announcement’’ for her April 21 rally at Amarkantak to fight back efforts to sideline her, Babulal Gaur, seeing a renewed threat to his chief ministership, rushed here, along with state BJP president Kailash Joshi and general secretary (organisation) Kaptan Singh Solanki, today to seek the advice of BJP president L.K. Advani.

The promise of a big announcement by Bharati after a spell of silence (maun vrat) has led to the speculation that she may declare a temporary withdrawal from politics, citing a lack of work for herself, and embark on a ‘‘Narmada Parikrama.’’ A round of the river on foot, considered highly sacred in MP, takes a year. In case she opts for it, Bharati would give sleepless nights to Gaur by addressing crowds en route. She has invited her guru Visheshwar Teerth of Udupi for the function and said she would retire from politics if advised by him.

Sources disclosed that Gaur, Joshi and Solanki have failed to prevail upon Advani and general secretary in-charge Arun Jaitley for preempting Bharati’s programme. Sources close to the state BJP leadership said: ‘‘No one here (at the Centre) is inclined to reach out to her.’’

Story continues below this ad

The three leaders have consequently changed their strategy. After having failed to stall Bharati’s programme, they are now out to sabotage it. The sources said Gaur has asked all party legislators to go to their constituencies and begin a mass-contact programme from April 21. The move is intended to check MLAs from flocking to Amarkantak. At a time when Gaur has already sacked a minister — Sunil Nayak — for his loyalty to Bharati, most MLAs are likely to abide by the directive. Joshi told Express: ‘‘In our party, nobody is with an individual, no matter how big. Everybody is committed to the organisation.’’

Changing her gameplan accordingly, Bharati has appealed to the MLAs to stay away from her function. Two MLAs who are working for the success of her programme are Nayak and Zalim Singh Patel, brother of former Union minister of state Prahlad Patel, who has been on a ‘‘Narmada Parikrama’’ for the last two months.

Bharati, it appears, is determined to end her isolation. ‘‘I am just 45 but people have started considering me as retired,’’ she said today. According to an agency report, she said, ‘‘Any talk about the party should be made within closed doors. But comments on me are made in public.’’

Claiming that her function was totally religious, she said, ‘‘It’s surprising that Gaur’s throne shakes whenever I merely wave my hand…Why should I attempt to dislodge the government which I myself have formed?’’

Story continues below this ad

In reply to a question, she said: ‘‘Atalji and Advaniji are the topmost people in our party and Sudarshanji is God for us. I cannot comment on what they say but I would say that when a general led the forces in the battlefield of Panipat, his age was above 80.’’

On Sudarshan’s remarks about herself, she said, ‘‘Perhaps, he wanted to say since I was a saint in my previous birth, I was not born in a family of saints in this birth.’’

Prashant Kishor: ‘Democracy not weak… Those saying people will lose vote rights are fools’

Political Pulse26 min ago

Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor launched his Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) after three years touring Bihar. The coming Assembly polls will be the first test of his goal to emerge as the third alternative in Bihar politics. Kishor speaks to The Indian Express about his party’s campaign, and the issues being raised by his rivals.

View all shorts

Live Blog