Atal, Advani powerless in BJP: Uma Bharati

Jaipur, Dec 16: Holding Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani solely responsible for BJP's downfall, firebrand leader Uma Bharati today said these leaders are now almost ''powerless entities'' in the party.

Speaking to reporters here, the Bharatiya Janshakti Party leader said ''Powers of Vajpayee and Advani in the party have shrunk drastically and they are inactive now. BJP is now in the hands of power brokers.'' Touring Rajasthan to garner support for her newly-formed party, Ms Bharati would address a rally later today.

She said earlier there were middle-level organisational managers in the party like Mr Kushabhau Thakre, Mr Govindacharyaji and others whose decisions mattered and who could voice their opinions to Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani directly.

But now this organisational level has disappeared completely from the party and is being managed by political managers, many of whom are unsocial elements,'' she claimed.

Adding that BJP's views on important national issues like Ram temple, Indo-US nuke deal, Afzal Guru's execution are not taken seriously anymore, Ms Bharati said''That is beacuse the party has lost all credibility, mainly due to Advani and Atal.'' However, she said she has no personal complaints against her former party.

UNI