Uma Bharti, Chouhan bonhomie triggers political speculation

Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has shared a public platform for the first time with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, prompting political experts to see this as a 'new equation' in Madhya Pradesh politics. The two leaders shared the public dais at the confluence of Narmada and Tawa rivers at Bandrabhan near here yesterday on the occasion of the 3rd International River Festival. The credit for bringing both the leaders on same platform is being given to the Ganga Samagra Abhiyan's convener and Rajya Sabha member, Anil Madhav Dave. Both the leaders had to attend the 3rd International River Festival at Bandrabhan but Chouhan had to attend its closing ceremony today while Bharti's programme was scheduled for yesterday. But Dave had requested the chief minister to attend the programme yesterday and Chouhan agreed to it, after which the two leaders shared the dais and they also spoke to each other for some time, addressing each other as "brother" and "sister".