Problems never seem to end for the faction-ridden BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
Just when the controversy over the induction of Babu Singh Kushwaha and the elevation of Rajnath Singh’s son was showing signs of dying down, senior leader Kalraj Misra has fuelled a new one by declaring that Uma Bharti was not its chief ministerial candidate in UP.
In a newspaper interview, Mr Misra ruled out Ms Bharti becoming chief minister if the party got a majority in the coming elections. “Our party president has said Surya Pratap Shahi is state unit president (and hence can’t hold two posts), Rajnath Singh has already said he’s not in state politics, and Bharti is from outside, not Uttar Pradesh,” he was quoted as saying. Mr Misra, though, was quick to deny that he had ruled out Ms Bharti’s CM candidature, saying the chief minister issue would be decided by the BJP parliamentary board. He also quickly added that this didn’t mean “I’m saying I am the chief ministerial candidate”.
Asked if the BJP would ever choose a brahmin as chief minister, Mr Misra again said that the parliamentary board would decide.