Lucknow: In remarks that could stir a new controversy around her, suspended BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Uma Bharti today (Dec 18, 2004) said party president L K Advani and former ideologue K N Govindacharya were of the same "stature".

"Govindacharya is a big leader. No comment of mine on such a big leader can work as any certificate. Govindacharya is a leader of Advaniji's stature. They will decide between themselves. We are too junior in that matter," Bharti said about the possibility of her close associate's return to BJP.

Bharti termed her return to the party as a "complicated matter and not ordinary" but said the Govindacharya's comeback did not appear "impossible". "It (Govindacharya's return) does not appear an impossibility to me," she said.

Asked about her return to the party, Bharti said she had completed the "technicalities" on her part and now the ball is in the court of Advani.

"I am not waiting for it. I am doing my work. Am I appearing to be standing in the waiting room? I am standing on the road," said Bharti, who was suspended from the party on November 10 after she created an uproar in party office-bearers' meeting in full media glare and dared Advani to take action against her.

Bharti said her return to BJP was "a matter of return of the ideology and also of political purity and is important for the direction of thinking of the party."

The firebrand leader said she had written a letter to Advani clarifying her position and has completed the technicalities.

"I did not want to harm the BJP," she said, adding "The decision has to be taken by Advaniji. It is not a matter of my pride."

When asked whether some people were opposing her return, Bharti said she was "not monitoring the developments".

To another question, Bharti said that she would not have written to Advani if she did not want to return to the BJP.

The firebrand leader said she would continue to strive for "Ram and roti" irrespective of her return to the BJP. The suspension would not affect it, she added.