Uma's Guru against division of Hindutva forces

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) Even as expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti is making all efforts to float her own party by the month end, her spiritual mentor, the Udupi Pejawar Mutt Swami Vishvesh Tirtha has advised her and the BJP that the presence of too many parties ''was not good for them or the Hindutva cause.'' Swami Vishvesh Tirtha, who has met BJP President Rajnath Singh as well as Ms Bharti, told them that the division of ideological forces would weaken the cause. ''This is not good for the their cherished common goals,'' the seer is believed to have advised the two leaders, informed sources told UNI.

Mr Singh, who met the Udupi seer ahead of his Bharat Suraksha Yatra to commence from Puri on April 6, was told of the need to accomodate a leader committed to the cause while at the same time, communicating the BJP's concerns regarding partye discipline. ''The seer is not sure what will emerge but as a non-political person, he has expressed his feelings to both leaders,'' the sources said.

The Swami, who initiated Ms Bharti into the monastic tradition -- making her the first sanyasin to be made in 800 years of history -- was present at Ayodhya in January when she completed her 900 km long 'Ram Roti Pada Yatra' from Bhopal. She had started the yatra after the BJP leadership turned down her claim for Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

However, both Mr Singh and Ms Bharti remained out of reach while sources close to her said that she had secured an appointment with Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon on April 3.

The former Chief Minister is expected to discuss the issue of modalities of floating a new party with him.

UNI MCN VD KP1917