Uma Bharti directs partymen to withdraw from Gujarat polls

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) Consolidating Hindutva votes, Bharatiya Janshakti President and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti today directed her partymen to withdraw their candidatures for the coming assembly elections in Gujarat.

Her direction to Gujarat BJ President Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj followed an advice by her spiritual Guru Visvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt asking her to withdraw her nominees in the interest of Hindu forces. He said it was necessary to clear the confusion in the Hindu society.

The former MP Chief Minister's actions are seen as an attempt to mend fences with the BJP and return to the party fold ahead of crucial elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in the immediate future and Karnataka assembly elections in the near future. The BJP is also keen that the Hindutva votes should not be divided especially in Central Gujarat where every chunk of vote could be decisive factor. Uma's party was fielding about 60 to 80 candidates for the 181 member assembly including many sitting BJP MLAs denied tickets.

Ms Bharti had floated her political outfit after she was removed from the BJP as General Secretary following the party denying her the Chief Ministership after using her services to reach out to masses in Bihar assembly elections two years ago.

In her directive to the Gujarat BJS chief she said that the Maharaj, should know that the situation in Gujarat was totally different and could not afford to hurt the patriotic forces even by mistake. If it hurts these forces, party had no way of wriggling out except to repenting the deeds.

The BJS was weak for two reasons -- the RSS workers can't openly extend their total support for the party although they were supportive of the party in their head and hearts. The party could not shake hands with anti-patriotic forces to make good the lack of monetary support although it was better placed than the BJP in many respects in terms of support base among the RSS work force without expecting money. Having Hanuman, Shivaji and Che Guvera as party models, the party had learnt to achieve target of Ram and Roti swallowing its personal prestige. "Hence I direct the BJS nominees to withdraw their candidatures from Gujarat elections. As to the mystery of who are these patriotic forces? People of Gujarat know the answers", she said while leaving.

UNI