Advani appearance with Uma creates stir in BJP

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Senior Bhartiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani’s public appearance with party’s expelled leader Uma Bharti at Somnath Temple in Gujarat on Saturday has created ripples in the ruling BJP circles in Madhya Pradesh.
When state BJP leaders and party workers were contacted and asked to share their views on the possible return of Ms Bharti in the BJP fold, many of them said that the party cadre wants to maintain the status quo. The general view in the ruling party organisation is that the state BJP government under Mr Chouhan’s leadership is high on the popularity graph and nothing should be done to disturb the apple cart.
When asked to spell out BJP’s stand on Hindutva and the Ram temple movement keeping in view Mr Advani’s latest visit to the Somnath Temple along with Ms Bharti, a senior BJP leader holding a position of authority in the state, said on condition of anonymity on Sunday that there should be no confusion about “our stand on Hindutva, Rajanma bhoomi and views on pseudo-secularism.”
At the moment, he went on to add, we have a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. The people of this state have elected us to power on the basis of our past performance and now our thrust is on fulfilling our electoral promises to retain the faith and trust of the people. He also pointed out that many prominent state party leaders have conveyed to the party leadership their reservations and views on Ms Bharti’s proposed reinduction.
Ms Bharti led the BJP to power and became the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2003. She was expelled from the BJP in 2005 after she had vehemently opposed Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s elevation as chief minister. In 2004, she was forced to relinquished office in the wake of a warrant issued against her in an old case by a Karnataka court.
After leading the BJP to power for the second consecutive term in 2008, Mr Chouhan has emerged stronger and the message being given continuously to the ruling party cadres by the state BJP organisation is that they have to use the atmosphere of stability to further strengthen the party base in the state.