Uma Bharti's BJP return attracts criticism by Mayawati and Kalyan Singh

LUCKNOW: Firebrand leader Uma Bharti’s return to the BJP with the specific mandate to work for the party in Uttar Pradesh has attracted criticism from both Mayawati and former BJP leader Kalyan Singh.

The Bahujan Samaj Party which had been wooing the Lodh Rajput community to which Uma Bharti belongs was quick to reject her as a failed leader. A BSP spokesperson said that the BJP in its desperation to find a leader for the UP polls had discovered Uma Bharti who had been a political failure in her home state of Madhya Pradesh.

The BSP said that Uma Bharti would not be able to revive the BJP’s fortunes in the state and the party would again fare badly in the assembly polls.

The BJP which has seen a rapid erosion in its votebank had finished fourth in the state during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

It is banking on the charismatic appeal of Uma Bharti who is regarded as a backward caste leader and her fiery speeches. Also her fellow Lodh caste votes form a sizeable chunk in the western-UP belt. The party is hoping that the non-Yadav backward votes would consolidate behind Uma Bharti and along with upper castes revive the party;s prospect in the UP polls.

Former BJP Chief Minister and Lodh leader Kalyan Singh also attacked Uma Bharti saying that she would not be able to shore up the party’s votebank in the run up to the assembly polls.

Singh who after resigning from the BJP, has floated his own Jan Kranti Party said that Uma Bharti would not prove to be effective and the BJP leaders would try and marginalise her within the partyfold.