New Delhi, December 3
Expulsion of Uma Bharti from the BJP appeared imminent as the party confirmed today that till late evening, it had not received any reply to the show-cause notice served on her for indulging in anti-party activities.
The three-day time given by the BJP to show cause why she should not be expelled from the party for anti-party activities drew to an end midnight tonight.
“We have not received any reply from her so far. Any further step, if necessary, will be taken by party President L.K. Advani,” BJP office secretary Shyam Jaju said.
The BJP suspended her from primary membership of the party on November 30.
BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley and in charge of Madhya Pradesh countered Ms Bharti’s allegations that the saffron party was trying to isolate leaders from backward communities in the party.
“Her allegation is baseless as the BJP is not a casteist party,” Mr Jaitley said.
In a related development, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan, who left for Bhopal this evening, was likely to expand his ministry tomorrow.
“I held consultations with the party’s central leadership. Most probably, the Cabinet expansion will be done tomorrow,” he said here.
He had met former Prime Minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Advani, party Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Mr Jaitley and RSS leaders.
Asked to comment on the size and composition of his Cabinet, Mr Chauhan merely said, “It will be a balanced ministry. All sections of society and regions of the state will be given representation.”
Replying to a question on how he would tackle the factional feud in the party, he maintained that there was no feud within the party.
