Uma Bharti to contest UP polls; to make it "Uttam Pradesh"

New Delhi, Jan 19: With an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has decided to field its firebrand leader Uma Bharti from the Charkari assembly seat in UP. To cash in on her popularity among the OBC vote bank, the party has taken this bold stand. On whether she will be portrayed as the chief ministerial candidate has not yet been decided.

The announcement was made by BJP President Nitin Gadkari in Mahoba district of the state and said, "There had been talks that Bharti should be fielded in the assembly elections. I met her today and decided to field her in the elections."

On being asked if she will be the chief minister if the party is voted to power, Gadkari said that this decision will be taken by MLAs who get elected after the polls. On the party's plans, he said that former CM Rajnath Singh, Bharti and party veteran Kalraj Mishra and Surya Pratap Sahi will lead the party campaign in UP. They had won 48 seats in the 2007 election.

In her usual fiery rhetoric, Uma said that her intention was to bring the party back to power in the state and make it "Uttam Pradesh". Slamming the quota tactic employed by the Congress, she said that the 4.5 per cent sub quota for minority within the 27 per cent quota for OBCs was "unconstitutional". She added, "While the minority should get education and employment, it should not be at the cost of OBCs. They have been deprived of their rights."

Uma Bharti had earlier threatened to stop campaigning in UP following the Kushwaha row. Her re-entry into the BJP after being expelled from the party 6 years ago has raised hopes for the party.

OneIndia News