BJP insulting Murli Manohar Joshi by naming him in 'second list' of campaigners: JD (U)

Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) move of including party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi in the second list of star campaigners for the third and fourth phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh, Janata Dal (United) on Friday said that the BJP has decided to insult Murli Manohar Joshi on every level.

"Varun Gandhi was not included in the first list but now has been given a place. Varun Gandhi is still young, but considering the party's senior leader for the second list seems like an insult. I think BJP has decided to insult Murli Manohar Joshi on every level," JD (U) leader Ajay Alok told ANI.

He added that Joshi, having reached the age group where he should be respected immensely, was being humiliated by his own party.

Echoing similar views JD (U) leader Dr. Sunil Kumar said that the BJP is going through an internal conflict itself, but does not miss the chance to intrude in the matters of others.

"BJP should look into their own issues first," Kumar said.

The BJP on Thursday included Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi and BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi in the party's list of star campaigners for the third and fourth phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi, a two-time young MP, has been out of favour with the party leadership, but his influence in seats going to poll in subsequent phases forced the party to bring him back for campaigning.

The saffron party ignored both Gandhi and Joshi in its list of campaigners for the first two phases in the politically crucial state.

Hardline leader Vinay Katiyar, too, is back as star campaigner but senior leader LK Advani remains missing.

Joshi and Katiyar were prominent faces of the movement for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, an issue which figured in the party's poll manifesto released in Lucknow.

Uttar Pradesh will see seven-phased elections between February 11 and March 8. The third phase will be held on February 19 and the fourth on February 27.