Sonia not invincible in Rae Bareli: Uma Bharti

Lucknow, Apr 14 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi is not "invincible" from Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency, expelled BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti today said.

Addressing a news conference here this evening, Ms Bharti recalled that even former prime minister late Indira Gandhi had once faced defeat at the hustings in Rae Bareli.

''It is a wrong notion that Ms Gandhi cannot be defeated in Rae Bareli polls.'' Talking of the segment, she claimed Rae Bareli had been given a raw deal. ''People are suffering in the constituency since there is a total lack of development.'' The firebrand leader has fielded Prabha Singh Lodh to fight Ms Gandhi in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha bypolls scheduled on May 8 next.

Since, Ms Bhaarti is yet to announce her new party, Ms Lodh is contesting as an Apna Dal candidate.

The expelled BJP leader who returned from Rae Bareli today, had earlier announced that although she would not fight the Rae Bareli by -polls herself, ''I will be a shadow candidiate against Sonia.'' Meanwhile, the Ms Bharti observed it would have been better if all non-Congress parties had fielded a consensus candidate against Sonia.

The former union minister also announced to address at least 100 public meetings in the run-up to the Rae Bareli bypolls.

Replying to a question, She lamented that a senior leader like Kalyan Singh was being ''subjected to insult in the BJP.'' ''Although, Mr Singh is Uttar Pradesh BJP affairs in charge, no one listens to him,'' she claimed.

UNI SB/VS SB BST2143