Will welcome Kalyan Singh's return to party, says BJP

LUCKNOW: Amidst growing speculation that former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh might be headed to his parent party, senior BJP leaders today said that they would welcome his return to the saffron party.

"I would be very happy in case Kalyan Singh returns to the BJP," national vice president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar told reporters here.

To a query on the issue, Rajnath Singh in Dehradun said that he would be happy if Singh, who has floated the Jan Kantri party after partying with BJP, returns.

"I will be very happy if Kalyan Singh returns," Singh, regarded as Kalyan Singh's detractor in the BJP, said.

Approached to comment on the rumours, Kalyan Singh evaded a direct reply saying that there is nothing as of now to speak on the issue.

With the 2014 Lok Sabha polls drawing nearer, the BJP appeared to have set its eyes on the prominent Lodha leader's re-entry with the belief that he, along with Uma Bharti, can attract non-Yadav OBC votes from rival political camps.