I can’t leave my Jhansi: Uma Bharti

The firebrand BJP leader thanks Ramdev after he suggested that she be fielded against Sonia from Rae Bareli

The suspense over the possibility of senior BJP leader Uma Bharti being put up against Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli ended on Friday after Ms. Bharti said she would not leave the Jhansi seat.

Talking to reporters in Jhansi, she said: “I cannot leave my Jhansi” from where she had been nominated by the BJP. She said she would instead contest from two seats, if the party insisted.

Ms. Bharti’s clarification came after yoga guru Baba Ramdev suggested a couple of days ago that she be fielded against Ms. Gandhi. Some BJP leaders too made a similar suggestion.

In New Delhi, BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said: “As far as Uma Bharti is concerned, she will contest from Jhansi.”