BJP to field Uma Bharati from either Babina or Charkhari

NEW DELHI: In an effort to consolidate the backward class votes in its favour, the BJP appears to have made up its mind to field Uma Bharati in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

Uma, sources said, could be fielded from either Babina or Charkhari- both seats in the Bundelkhand region. Although the central leadership was keen on Uma's candidature, there was some resistance from state unit leaders as well as their handlers in Delhi.

A formal announcement on her contesting the polls could be made on Monday, party sources said. The party has released the names of candidates for 381 of the 403 seats in UP.

Uma, who belongs to the Lodh community, has the potential to emerge as the leading face of the non-Yadav, non-Kurmi backward communities. With the most backward classes becoming the focus of attention of the BJP in the coming polls, her candidature could see these numerically preponderant sections moving closer to the party.

It was the lure of the MBC votes that prompted the BJP to strike a deal with Babu Singh Kushwaha, a BSP dropout.

The BJP's strategy to reach out to the backward classes will also reflect in its poll manifesto for the state. The party is expected to spell out clearly that it will not allow quota for the minorities from within the 27% reservation for OBCs. It will cite the status of minorities in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.