Uma Bharti challenges BJP leadership in Madhya Pradesh: report

Bhopal: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and the BJP leader Uma Bharti is making a comeback from her political wilderness, this time questioning the BJP.

Bharti told the meeting of her community members to “ vote in elections keeping all consideration in mind”, which political pundits see as a clear signal of dissidence.

After describing herself a loyal BJP soldier Bharti told Lodhi community meeting at Bhopal that she would continue ask people to vote for the party.

But she made a tactic twist, adding that her community members were not bound by any oath who could take a decision keeping all consideration in mind, according to India Today.

A video of the community meeting, held on December 25 that went viral, showed the leader saying that she never asked Lodhis to vote for BJP, adding that “ I tell everyone to vote for the BJP as I am a loyal solider of my party”.

“You have to see your interests. If you are not a party worker, you have to decide about yourself. I am bound to the party because of my love for it, but you are free from any political bond.” She reportedly said.

Bharat also said she would not expect her community members to be loyal solider of the party.

Several other BJP leaders from the Lodhi community including Union minister Prahlad Patel, his MLA brother Jalam Singh Patel and the BJP MLA from Bada Malehra were present at the function.

The Lodhis, a politically powerful OBC community in MP, are concentrated in large numbers in Gwalior, Bundelkhand and some parts of Mahakoshal such as Balaghat.

A tension between Lodhis and Brahmins has been brewing of late after BJP leader Pritam Lodhi made some anti-Brahmin remarks which led to his expulsion from the party.

The Lodhis are linked to the BJP through Uma Bharti and Prahlad Patel and Bharti’s tactical move will give the BJP headache as the elections in the state are due in less than a year.