Ujjain (MP): BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Oct 31, 2004) said former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti has declined to become party's general secretary since the leave she had sought to visit Madhmaheshwar, is pending.

"I had offered her the post of general secretary in the newly-constituted body of BJP, but she said that her leave, which she had taken to visit Madhmaheshwar is still incomplete," party president L K Advani told reporters in Ujjain today.

Bharti is on leave till November end, Advani informed after taking part in the national convention of the Bharatiya Sindhu Sabha.

Stating that it was on his request only that Bharti returned from Madhmaheshwar to attend the BJP national council meeting, Advani added, "probably she must have gone back to Madhmaheshwar by now."

Bharti's name was missing from the party's fresh team of office-bearers announced yesterday (Oct 30, 2004).