The president of the Bharatiya Janashakti Party and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, met the former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Kalyan Singh, at his residence on Tuesday. The meeting lasted for about 40 minutes.
The meeting, coming in the wake of Mr. Singh parting ways with Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh, has raised speculation over the two Lodh leaders coming together.
On Mr. Singh’s support to the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, Ms. Bharti backed his cause. Speaking to journalists, both said they would strengthen the temple movement.
Addressing a press conference later, Ms. Bharti denied that she would return to the BJP. However, she said a letter was sent to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener Sharad Yadav, seeking his permission to join the NDA.
Ms. Bharti said that until the permission was granted, she would continue working on the issues before the party. She was here to attend a meeting of her party’s office-bearers.
Ms. Bharti said she was opposed to the BJP’s stand on issues pertaining to women’s reservation, special economic zones and the nuclear deal.
