Date:25/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122505891100.htm

National

Madhya Pradesh BJP workers jubilant

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, DEC. 24. The supporters of the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, were jubilant following the revocation of her suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party today.

A large number of supporters, including women, gathered at the Roshanpura square at New Market here carrying BJP flags and placards after the news broke.

Crackers were burst in the new market area here this afternoon. The BJP workers, led by State Minister, Sunil Nayak, and prominent local leaders such as Bhagwandas Sabnani and Shaitan Singh were seen distributing sweets and dancing. Mr. Nayak, who is a staunch Uma Bharti loyalist, told newspersons the other day that a majority of Ministers in the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet were still committed to her leadership.

When newspersons met the Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, later this afternoon and sought his reaction, he said: "All of us will remain united and work for the progress of the party."

Following Ms. Bharti's suspension after she stormed out of the meeting of the newly-constituted BJP office-bearers on November 10, her followers in Madhya Pradesh had gone into hibernation.

Even her most loyal supporters remained silent.The State Minister for Public Works Department, Kailash Vijayvargiya, told The Hindu today: "Though distressed by the party president's decision to suspend Ms. Bharti, we had to remain quiet for the sake of party discipline." The party president, L.K. Advani, had now revoked the suspension and "we are so happy."

On March 15, 2003, when the BJP was preparing itself for the Assembly polls later that year, the then BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu,announced at the BJP's Sankalp rally here that Ms. Bharti would lead the campaignin Madhya Pradesh. Mr.Advani promptly seconded this announcement.

The State BJP president, Kailash Joshi,reassured the party leadership that the Assembly elections would be contested under Ms. Bharti's leadership.

After the BJP won with a three-fourth majority, Ms. Bharti was sworn in Chief Minister in December and in August 2004 was forced to step down amid reports that a Karnataka Police team was on its way to Bhopal to execute the non-bailable warrant against her linked to an old riot case at Hubli, Karnataka.