Uma pitches for LK as PM candidate

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Senior BJP leaders M.M. Joshi (from left), L.K. Advani and Kalraj Mishra at a public meeting during the Janchetna Yatra

BJP leader Uma Bharti, on Thursday, gave a new twist to the on-going power struggle in the BJP when she announced that Mr Advani would be the prime ministerial candidate for the next Lok Sabha elections.
While addressing a public meeting in Varanasi during the Jan Chetna Yatra on Thursday, Ms Bharti said, “Mr Advani’s yatra will bring an end to UPA regime and pave the way for a government headed by him.”
She further said that those leaders who have started their yatra from Varanasi have invariably gone on to become Prime Minister. Ms Bharti, who looks upon Mr Advani as a father figure, was all praise for the veteran leader.
Mr Advani, however, said that the yatra was not aimed at projecting himself and that he wanted to generate confidence among people who are demoralised by corruption in the country.
Speaking at the rally, Mr Advani alleged that the centre was not taking the needed steps on the issue of corruption.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader lauded PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi for exposing the 2G scam and said that his objective was to ensure that money stashed away in foreign banks came back to the country so that all villages get the basic facilities of electricity, road and water.
“The country lost confidence due to 2G spectrum and CWG scams and government’s inaction in corruption issues and the only objective of my yatra is to restore it,” he said.
Mr Advani’s Janchetna yatra that entered the third day on Thursday also faced protests from local Congress workers who shouted anti-Advani slogans and carried placards. The protesters later courted arrest.
Mr Advani later flagged off the Jan Swabhimaan yatra led by Mr Kalraj Misra from Varanasi. Earlier, he also visited Vishwanath temple and offered prayers there.