Uma Bharati loses from home turf

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Bhartiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party's founder president Uma Bharati on Monday lost the Tikamgarh seat, her home turf.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Bhartiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party's founder president Uma Bharati Monday lost the Tikamgarh seat, her home turf.

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Yadvendra Singh Bundela of the Congress trounced her with a margin of more than 3,000 votes as the votes were counted for the assembly elections held Nov 27.

Uma Bharati, a firebrand leader who had to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party, had maintained that her aim was not the victory of her party but to defeat the incumbent BJP government.

Barely two days ago, she had told mediapersons in Tikamgarh that if she does not succeed in her mission then she will give up politics for good and go to Kedarnath.

She had said she would quit politics if BJP won in Madhya Pradesh.

While Uma Bharati was not available for comments on the result, Prahlad Patel, once her most trusted lieutenant, told IANS over telephone: "It was disgusting that the BJP joined hands with the Congress to defeat Uma Bharati."

The BJS, floated about two and a half years ago, had fielded 215 candidates for the 230-seat state assembly.