Madhya Pradesh BJP abuzz over Uma Bharti's return
Bhopal, June 7 (IANS) The return of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday has left party circles abuzz over the possible impact of the development in her home state, sources said.
Though BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, for now, has given her the responsibility of leading the party in next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, state leaders believe that sooner or later she would try to return to Madhya Pradesh politics, the sources said.
State party president Prabhat Jha said: "If someone comes, it is okay. If not, then also it is okay. It is the decision of 'aala kamaan' (party superemo)."
The saffron-clad woman, credited with the BJP victory in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls in 2003, had to resign from the chief minister's post in 2004. Later, she was expelled from the party for defying the leadership.
BJP sources said Uma Bharti's return to the party may impact Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's influence in the state unit.
Chouhan said: "The decision has taken into consideration everyone's consent and I will soon invite her to my home."
The supporters of Uma Bharti danced near her residence in Bhopal when her return to the party was announced in Delhi.
"The nature and signature of a person does not change. And the nature of Uma Bharti is to remain vocal," said a senior officer of Madhya Pradesh government who saw her in action as chief minister in 2003-04.