RSS to play decisive role in next MP Assembly polls: Uma

Bhopal, Sep 2 (UNI) Bharatiya Jan Shakti president Uma Bharti today asserted that the RSS would play a decisive role in the next Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

Ms Bharti told reporters here today that the BJS could emerge victorious if the RSS refrained from playing an active role in the elections. However, the Congress would gain if the RSS campaigned for the BJP, she added.

Claiming that the BJP would not return to power, she said the BJS had secured 20 per cent votes in recent by-elections ending 11 per cent lead gained by the BJP in 2003. Besides, the BJS had snatched nine per cent votes of the BJP.

''Keeping this in mind, the BJP would contest the Assembly elections on its own. The party would make efforts to improve and come to power,'' she asserted.

Commenting on dissatisfied leaders in the BJP, she said she would maintain distance from such leaders and consider contended members.

Ms Bharti claimed that the BJP had emerged victorious during the 2003 Assembly elections under her leadership. ''However corruption started after I vacated the post of Chief Minister,'' she added.

She claimed that the present government had left behind the SP in terms of ''crime and the Congress for corruption''.

The firebrand leader said BJS General Secretary Prahlad Patel would begin fast here on September 25 on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's birth anniversary over corruption-related issues. The fast would continue till Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

During this period, corruption-related issues would be raised through CDs and facts.

Ms Bharti said the BJP had fought the last Assembly elections on the poll plank of eliminating 'Bhay (fear)', 'Bhook (hunger)' and 'Bhrastachar (corruption)'. However, the situation was opposite at present, she added.

She said the next Assembly elections would be fought over development-related issues.

UNI