Ahead of MP polls, BJP ignores Uma Bharti
What's the story
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti expressed her disappointment over being excluded from the party's Jan Ashirwad Yatra.
The yatra was flagged off on Sunday by BJP National President JP Nadda in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
As per reports, Bharti claimed that the BJP might be scared of her popularity and "nervous" that she would draw all the public attention with her presence.
Details
Bharti's remarks on BJP over 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra'
Speaking about not receiving an invite to the yatra, Bharti stated, "Maybe they (BJP leaders) are nervous that if I'm there, then entire public attention will be on me."
"If Jyotiraditya Scindia helped them form the government (in 2020), even I helped them form a bigger majority government (in 2003)," news outlet NDTV quoted the 64-year-old BJP leader as saying.
More details
If I'm invited now, I will not go anywhere: Bharti
On Monday, Bharti also took to X (formerly Twitter) to further clarify her stand on the issue and claimed, "I didn't receive an invitation at the start of Jan Ashirwad Yatra; it is true."
"Yes, even if I'm invited now, I will not go anywhere," she tweeted in Hindi, adding that even if she gets an invite, she will not attend the yatra's closing ceremony on September 25 as well.
Twitter Post
Check out Bharti's post on X
3) मुझे जन आशीर्वाद यात्रा के प्रारंभ में निमंत्रण नहीं मिला यह सच्चाई है कि ऐसा मैंने कहा है लेकिन निमंत्रण मिलने या ना मिलने से मैं कम ज्यादा नहीं हो जाती । हाँ अब यदि मुझे निमंत्रण दिया गया तो मैं कही नहीं जाऊँगी । ना प्रारंभ में ना 25 सितंबर के समापन समारोह में । @BJP4MP
— Uma Bharti (@umasribharti) September 4, 2023
Further information
Bharti reveals her 'unbreakable' bond with MP CM
In another X post, Bharti also revealed that she has a bond of "respect" with MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and his affection toward her was "unbreakable."
"Whenever and wherever Shivraj ji asks me to campaign, I can campaign by obeying him and respecting him," the BJP leader added.
Know more
Know about BJP's Jan Ashirwad Yatra
With the assembly elections scheduled for later this year in Madhya Pradesh, the ruling BJP flagged off the first of its five Jan Ashirwad Yatras in the state on Sunday.
According to The Indian Express, these five yatras will be covering 210 of the 230 assembly seats in the state and traverse approximately 10,500km in the process.
Insights
Recalling Bharti's key contributions to MP
Notably, Bharti played a crucial role in dethroning the Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, securing a three-fourths majority for the saffron party.
As per NDTV, Bharti was expelled from the BJP for indiscipline in 2005 and readmitted in 2011.
In 2013, the 64-year-old was appointed one of the 13 vice presidents to guide the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.