Bhopal: Though Prabhat Jha was elected
unopposed as the Madhya Pradesh BJP President, senior party
leader and seven-time MP, Sumitra Mahajan has conveyed her
'displeasure' to the party for not consulting senior leaders
like her before finalising Jha's name for the post.
"Though I don't have anything personal against Jha, I am
opposed to the way things are taking place in the party.
Barring few, none of the senior leaders were consulted on the
issue," Mahajan said today over phone from Indore.
"Since the party asked me not to file nomination for the
State Party President's post, I abide by it but expressed my
displeasure to the BJP National Vice President and the
Observer for the election, Kalraj Mishra over the procedure
adopted by the party in selecting Jha for the post," Mahajan
said.
"I have asked Mishra to convey my displeasure to the
party leadership on the issue and as soon as I get an
appointment with BJP President Nitin Gadkari, I will discuss
the issue with him also," she said, adding, the names of
senior leaders who were not consulted on this issue were known
to everyone.
However, she said she could have contested the poll if
she wished so and added that there were several leaders and
workers ready to propose and second her candidature, but she
did not want to create awkward situation for the party on
the issue.
Prabhat Jha, himself, has chosen to remain silent on
the issue. When reporters asked him about Mahajan's
reservations over his election as state chief, Jha said he
would not like to comment on the subject.
Meanwhile, on the issue of re-induction of senior
saffron leader Uma Bharti into the BJP, Sumitra Mahajan said
that Bharti was a national figure and the Chief Minister of
the BJP government one time.
It is for the national leadership to take a decision
on the issue and added that she would express her opinion on
the matter in the party forum only.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, May 09, 2010, 18:12