Bhopal: A video of In BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti telling her (Lodhi) community members that they are free to vote for any party taking into account their own interest has raised political temperature in the state. Bharti, who is a member of the Lodhi community made the remarks at a community function here on Tuesday.
The statement of the BJP leader evoked sharp reactions from the state Congress party on Wednesday claiming that it reflects the pain and deep anguish of the senior leader who feels sidelined by her party leaders.
The video shows Uma Bharti at a function, saying, “I am a dedicated and loyal soldier of the BJP and would seek votes for the party, but I would also like to make it clear that you must take a judicious decision and vote according to your interests.
“I will come, I will come on the platform of my party, I will ask for votes. I never say that if you are a Lodhi then vote for the BJP. I tell everyone to vote for the BJP because I am a loyal soldier of my party. But I will expect a little from you that you will be a loyal soldier of the party,” she said.
Bharati said, “You have to see the surroundings and look for your interests. If you are not a party worker or a party voter, you have to decide for yourself. We are in the bond of love but from my side, you are completely free from the political bonding.”
The state Congress tweeted a video of Bharti's address and said, “Big message for Lodhi community -Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti has indicated to the Lodhi community that now there is no need to vote for the BJP. Uma Bharti ji, welcome to the grand campaign to save Madhya Pradesh.”
K K Mishra, chairman of the media department of the MP Congress Committee, said that Bharti has been trying to re-establish her shrinking political base in the BJP. “But, we can't say as she used to backtrack from her announcements and statements,” he said.
State Congress media vice president, Bhupendra Gupta, said that the manner in which Uma Bharti has spoken of leaving the persons from Lodhi community to their will on which party to vote shows deep anguish that the leaders like Uma Bharti, who contributed immensely in strengthening the BJP and bringing the party to this pass, are feeling at being neglected. While the "core" BJP workers are being neglected and sidelined, their "step brothers and sisters" bought over from other parties are being nurtured, he said.
What Uma Bharti has said also indicates that the BJP, facing internal bickerings, would be facing a similar situation in the 2023 election as 2018, he said.Reached for comments, state BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said the Congress is excited without any reason. “Uma ji is a saint and talks like this. She is dedicated and loyal to Lord Ram and the BJP as well. The Congress is unnecessarily expressing happiness,” he said.
Uma Bharti is yet to make any comment on the purported video.
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