BJSP holds key to government formation: Gautam

Ahmedabad, Dec 1 (UNI) Bhartiya JansShakti (BJ) vice-president Sanghpriya Gautam today said no government could be formed in Gujarat without his party's support.

The BJ's 54 candidates would be contesting the upcoming state Assembly elections, even as the party President Uma Bharti had asked them to withdraw, he clarified while talking to newspersons here.

''The fact that I am here under the instructions of Ms Bharti makes it clear that the candidates of the party were going ahead for the elections,'' Mr Gautam said.

He parried all questions about Ms Bharti joining the BJP. He, however, said the BJP had been on a continuous decline and her joining the party was not possible.

When his attention was drawn to an interveiw where Ms Bharti had praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and called him her ''brother'', Mr Gautam said ''Personal equations are different. Uma Bharti calls L K Advani her father that does not mean that she is in BJP.'' ''Mr Modi has no support from VHP or RSS. The BJP is a sinking ship. People want an honest and pan-Indian alternative that would be acceptable to all and the BJSP will fulfil the need,'' Mr Gautam, who is next to Ms Bharti, said. To a question, he said Ms Bharti is presently busy with elections for Khergaon Lok Sabha by-polls and Saver Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh. She is expected to come to Gujarat later but before the first phase of polls, he informed.

Six rebel BJP MLAs were with the BJSP, while three were contesting elections on BJSP tickets, three others have pledged their support to the party.

Over 25 BJSP candidates had filed their nominations for the first phase of polls, while 29 candidates figure in the second phase.

UNI