08 June,2011 07:43 AM IST | | Amit Kumar
The homecoming of the fire-brand leader may pave the way for other expelled worthies to return to the BJP
The re-induction of Uma Bharti into the BJP might lead the way for another expelled leader Sanjay Joshi, former general secretary of the party, to come back to the fold. In fact, BJP president Nitin Gadkari had declared after taking over the reins that he would hold internal consultations in the party before taking back estranged leaders.
BJP President Nitin Gadkari offering sweets to Uma Bharti welcoming
her backu00a0Pic/Rajeev Tyagi
Despite opposition from Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who is considered a development mascot of the party, RSS-backed Gadkari successfully re-inducted Bharti. Sources say Gadkari's next attempt will be to re-induct Joshi. The RSS reportedly have no issues with Joshi's inclusion in the party and he has the support of senior leaders like MG Vaidhya. Those who have seen the BJP closely say if there is one man who can take on Narendra Modi, it is Sanjay Joshi, who is known and admired for his organisational skills, both in the BJP and RSS.
"An announcement of the re-induction of Joshi is expected very soon," said a source in the BJP. However, he didn't deny that the re-induction of Bharti and Joshi would eventually lead to a new tug-of-war in the BJP as both decisions will make two of its chief ministers unhappy. Narendra Modi is considered an ideological
mascot of the party.
Firebrand Hindutva leader Uma Bharti was entrusted with the task of looking after Uttar Pradesh which is going to polls next year. Announcing her re-entry, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Uttar Pradesh will be the main area of her work and she will have a 'prominent role to play' there in the party's campaign.u00a0"The decision to re-induct her into the party was taken with consensus... BJP will get a new energy in Uttar Pradesh with Uma's return," Gadkari said. 52-year-old Bharti was expelled for indiscipline and defying the BJP's central leadership in December 2005 after she objected to LK Advani's praise of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Bharti had then formed her own outfit Bhartiya Janshakti Party.
Expressing happiness over her homecoming, Bharti said she was feeling like the proverbial bird of the ship who leaves it only to come back again. "Out of the party for six years, I have realised that only the BJP is my anchor and destination... In these six years I learnt that if one has to serve the nation and keep some ideological commitment, there is no option other than the BJP. I want to forget the last five years I was out of the BJP," Bharti said.
