Khurana announces return to electoral politics in Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Suspended BJP leader Madanlal Khurana today announced his return to electoral politics in Delhi.

The former Delhi Chief Minister made the announcement at a function marking the start of his ''Delhi Bachao Sangharsh Yatra'' at Bara Tooti Chowk in Delhi Sadar.

This followed a little coaxing by expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti, who was present at the function. The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister appealed to him to come forward to ''lead in the Assembly polls in Delhi''.

Describing the Delhi stalwart as a ''father figure'', Ms Bharti said she and Mr Khurana could fight forthcoming elections from a common platform.

She charged ''some leaders in the BJP'' with having insulted the party stalwart by taking away his powers. ''I want to see him as Delhi Chief Minister again,'' she said.

Mr Khurana had said in the past that he would not contest elections in Delhi. He began the 'Yatra' by accusing both the Congress as well as the state unit of the BJP with having betrayed the people on the demolition and sealing drives of municipal authorities against illegal constructions and commercial activities in residential areas.

Mr Khurana said he would start a fast unto death in front of the Prime Minister's residence on completion of his 7-day 'Yatra' to highlight these issues. While praising Mr Khurana's leadership qualities and lashing out at her critics in the BJP, Ms Bharti said there was need to re-steer politics towards the basic issues of food and unemployment.

''Yeh roti ki ladayi hai,'' she told her audience even as charging unnamed BJP leaders with committing a ''sin'' (paap) by ''reducing'' Mr Khurana to a ''powerless'' Governor.

''We are part of the same family,'' she said.

UNI