EXPELLED BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti on Sunday floated the Bharatiya Janshakti Party in the temple town of Ujjain and declared herself as the president.
After offering prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple, Bharti launched the party — which sounds similar to her earlier organisation and has the same acronym. Unfurling the party flag — in saffron, with a golden border and the symbol of sun, she said the Bharatiya Janshakti Party was formed to “save the BJP". Referring to the sun symbol in the party's flag, she added that the lotus (the BJP's symbol) would bloom only in sunlight.
Suspended BJP leader and former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana was also present on the occasion. However, he said he was not joining Bharti's party now. Asked if he would eventually join the party, he said he would take a decision after deliberations with Bharti in Delhi on May 7. On Saturday, Raghunandan Sharma, vice-president of Madhya Pradesh's BJP unit, had said he would join Bharti's party.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Congress leader and Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh said Bharti's party "will be a new factor in Madhya Pradesh politics". Singh, who is a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, added, "Her presence will be damaging to the BJP, not the Congress."
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, in Delhi, Congress leader and Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh said Bharti's party "will be a new factor in Madhya Pradesh politics". Singh, who is a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, added, "Her presence will be damaging to the BJP, not the Congress."
{{/usCountry}}When asked if Bharti would be contributing to the evolution of the Third Front, Singh said, "When she calls herself No. 2 in the BJP, there is no questions of her seeking such a role".