Seems like BJP may be trying to move towards center. Not a good news for the Bharati extermist right wingers.
BJP suspends firebrand politician
A senior member of India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Uma Bharti, has been suspended for clashing with its leaders.
The BJP has given Ms Bharti, a former federal minister, 72 hours to explain why she should not be expelled.
Ms Bharti is one of India’s most controversial and charismatic right-wing political leaders.
This is the second time in a year that she has been suspended from the party for rowing with its leaders.
The earlier suspension in November 2004 had been lifted after a few weeks.
Wednesday’s suspension came after Ms Bharti disagreed with other leading party members over how to chose the new chief minister of her home state of Madhya Pradesh.
Protest
Ms Bharti, herself a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, had protested against the appointment of Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the state’s new leader.
An angry Ms Bharti declared herself as the “real BJP” and began a march to the northern holy town of Ayodhya in protest.
“If anyone expels me from the BJP, I will not accept it or recognise it,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
Former prime minister and senior BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee has criticised Ms Bharti’s actions.
“Indiscipline will not be tolerated howsoever big the person is and whatever the issue may be,” Mr Vajpayee said.
The BBC’s Jyotsna Singh says Ms Bharti has been at loggerheads with the party leadership over the appointment of the Madhya Pradesh chief minister.
Ms Bharti became Madhya Pradesh chief minister in 2003 but had to resign from the position after a court in Bangalore issued a non-bailable warrant against her over charges of flying the national flag at a disputed place.
The charges were later dropped but Ms Bharti was not reinstated.
Controversial
Analysts say Ms Bharati’s dissidence points to a breakdown in discipline in the BJP.
“The manner in which the whole Uma issue was handled shows the complete breakdown of the party leadership’s ability to address grievances through a democratic and consensual process of decision making,” said The Indian Express newspaper.
Ms Bharti, 45, is one of the best-known leaders of the Hindu right.
A former cabinet minister, she is at the centre of a campaign to build a controversial temple in the northern city of Ayodhya.
More than 10 years ago, she watched from the sidelines as a Hindu mob tore down a 16th century mosque, which they believe was built over the birthplace of the Hindu God Ram.
She is alleged to have egged on the crowd with cries of encouragement and is still fighting a court battle against charges of inciting the mob.
Story from BBC NEWS: