Uma to launch new party

Ujjain, Apr 29 (UNI) Expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti will formally launch a new political party in this temple town tomorrow.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Madanlal Khurana, former Union ministers Tapan Sikdar and Swami Chinmayanand, former BJP Secretary Sanghpriya Gautam and many BJP dissidents will join Ms Bharti at the launch of the new party on the banks of the holy Kshipra river, her staunch supporter and former union minister Prahlad Patel said.

The temple town, associated with legendary king Vikramaditya and Jyotirling, has been decked up with saffron flags, banners and cut-outs of Ms Bharti for the launching of the new outfit, the name of which was kept secret so far.

Ms Bharti, who is camping in Dhar to give final shape to the new party, will offer the flag and proposal for floating the new party at the feet of Lord Mahakal tomorrow, before approaching the Election Commission for the party's registration. She will address a public meeting at Shahid Park in the evening, Mr Patel said.

Ms Bharti had earlier planned to launch the party from Varanasi, but later changed the venue to Chitrakoot and ultimately fixed Ujjain for the party's launch.

After plunging into politics more than two decades ago and taking part in the Ram temple movement, Ms Bharti became a Union minister and also Madhya Pradesh chief minister. She was expelled from the BJP in November last year.

UNI Team-SP DKS HS1820