By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya Wednesday invited Bharatiya Janshakti Party leader Uma Bharti to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following her support for BJP leader L.K. Advani’s nomination for the post of prime minister.
“Uma Bharti has made a good gesture. She has been in the party for a long time and the party would welcome her homecoming if she wishes so,” Vijaywargiya told reporters here.
“Subah ka bhoola agar sham ko ghar vaapas ata hai to use bhoola nahin kahte (If one realises his mistake and returns home, he is not a defaulter),” added Vijaywargiya, who was once a close associate of Bharti.
Earlier in the day, Bharti told a press conference in the national capital that not only does she support Advani becoming the next prime minister but will also campaign for him in the non-BJP dominated states for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“I will campaign for Advaniji in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and I would consider myself fortunate if I get even one vote for him,” Bharti said at a press conference here.
Bharti, in a letter addressed to Advani Tuesday, said that she supports him in becoming the next prime minister. Her U-turn comes years after she was expelled from the BJP for her outburst against Advani in full media glare.
“I have decided that I would not become a road block in you becoming the prime minister. I want you to become the prime minister and help solve the serious national issues,” the letter said.
Bharti was suspended from the party in 2004 but her suspension was revoked in May 2005 due to pressure by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and she was appointed member of the party’s national executive.
Later in the year, she was expelled from the BJP when she revolted against the appointment of Shivraj Singh Chauhan as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
However, Bharti, who said she will not contest the Lok Sabha elections this time because her party “does not have adequate funds”, denied that she wanted to return to the BJP.
“I am not joining the BJP or merging my party with it,” she told reporters in New Delhi.
When asked about Bharti’s decision to stay away from the BJP, Vijaywargiya said: “She had earlier opposed Advani as prime minister but now she has changed her stand. She may also change her decision to join the BJP in the days to come.”