Uma may help BJP, indirectly

UMA BHARTI has been spewing venom at the BJP ever since her expulsion from the party. But by an odd chance of fate, her 'Janadesh Yatra' is expected to give the party a boost in Mohammadabad, where it has fielded Alka Rai, the wife of slain legislator Krishnanand Rai, in the by-polls.

UMA BHARTI has been spewing venom at the BJP ever since her expulsion from the party. But by an odd chance of fate, her 'Janadesh Yatra' is expected to give the party a boost in Mohammadabad, where it has fielded Alka Rai, the wife of slain legislator Krishnanand Rai, in the by-polls.

HT Image

Bharti, who begins her yatra from Mirzapur on Monday, will be in Mohammabad in Gazipur district on February 8, during phase one of her journey. She is set to hold public rallies here.

"Since Uma Bharti will be holding public meetings highlighting the failure of the ruling Samajwadi Party in controlling crime, it is going to favour Alka Rai," Ramasheesh Rai, UP in-charge of Bharti's yatra, told HT on Saturday.

The "indirect" help would come at a good time for the BJP, which is yet to finalize the campaign programmes of its leaders. The SP, on the other hand, has already geared its rank and file to mobilize support for its candidate, Gama Ram.

However, Mohammadab may be the only stop on the yatra where Bharti's words may favour the BJP. Her tone may not be same in the other stops she makes as she crisscrosses the state.

BJP insiders confirmed Bharti’s Mohammadabad stopover would be a boon for the party. But party leaders also told party workers to keep away from the rally as it could harm them in other places.