Uma Bharti may return to BJP soon

After almost six years, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Uma Bharti is likely to return to the BJP soon. Ahead of the crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh next year, a significant section of the party, including veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani, feels Bharti’s return can add to the party’s prospects in the country’s biggest electoral state.

But BJP insiders said there was another section – comprising key party leaders in Parliament and a former party president – finding little merit in bringing back Bharti to the party fold.

Almost four months ago, Advani had said that Bharti would return to the party and could fight elections in Uttar Pradesh. Bharti was first expelled from the party in 2005 when she stormed out of a meeting of BJP’s office bearers and dared Advani to take action against her. She was reinstated in the party for a brief period but her revolt against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan earned her yet another expulsion in the following year.

But prospects of Bharti’s return have brightened with BJP President Nitin Gadkari confirming in Jaipur on Tuesday that senior party leaders were in touch with Bharti for her return. The BJP chief had also spoken to Chouhan last month to bring him on board with the party decision. Chouhan and Bhrati do not share congenial relation.

While a section of senior party leaders are still apprehensive about Bhrati, Gadkari and Advani want her back as they believe she could play a major role in garnering other backward castes (OBCs) votes for the party in UP. The two also see her as the answer to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

Senior BJP leaders have tried to convince her that she should not interfere in Madhya Pradesh on her returned to the fold.