BJP may field Uma Bharati in UP

Accepting Uma Bharati’s hold over OBC votes in Uttar Pradesh, BJP could field her as a candidate in the poll-bound state. Sources in BJP said party chief Nitin Gadkari was keen on giving nomination to Bharati to woo OBC votes. Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, a Lodh leader, was a prominent OBC face of the party in the state. Sources said it was not yet clear whether Gadkari has so far taken views of other party leaders in fielding Bharati considered a face of hardcore Hindutva of BJP. [caption id=“attachment_186354” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Reuters”]  [/caption] There has been a lot of speculation about Bharti’s non-participation in BJP’s election campaign in UP so far in the wake of reports about her being miffed over the party’s decision to induct Babu Singh Kushwaha, another OBC leader, after quitting BSP. Bharti had claimed early this year that she will cease to campaign for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh following the induction of tainted BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha to the party fold. Kushwaha was projected as the BJP’s OBC face. Following Bharti’s decision speculations were rife about her ambitions to fight the election as BJP’s OBC face. Bharti hasn’t been campaigning for the BJP since January 9, 2012. Meanwhile following widespread uproar in the party over Kushwaha’s induction to the party, he has been suspended from the party till he comes out clean. With PTI inputs