Saturday, January 15 2005 16:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has decided to field firebrand 'sanyasin' Uma Bharti as the lead campaigner for Bihar Assembly elections in its attempt to wrest power from RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal)-Congress combine.

Considered a "perfect counter" for RJD chief Laloo Prasad in the campaigning style, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will be in Bihar for 20 days, far exceeding all other leaders not belonging to the state.

The decision to field her for extensive campaign has been taken despite the fact that she holds no post in the party nor is she connected in any way with Bihar.

Party sources said that Uma was the "best bet" in terms of campaigning for the party in the state considering her "mass appeal" and backward class background.

"She is one BJP leader who has the appeal to counter Laloo in his stronghold," they said.

The potential in her is believed to have been the reason for her suspension being revoked in about a month despite her having challenged the authority of top party leadership in full media glare on November 10. But even as she was reinstated, her post of General Secretary was not restored to her.

The party leaders, however, do not accept it officially. "There is no link between her (Uma) revocation of suspension and her campaign programme," BJP General Secretary in-charge of Bihar and spokesman Arun Jaitley told reporters when asked about her being deputed for so many days unlike others.

Besides, Uma, cinestar-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha will also be a lead campaigner for the party in the State, as per the programme.

Among other leaders to be fielded for campaigning in the State, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will canvass for three days, Advani six days, Sushma Swaraj seven days, Murli Manohar Joshi six days, Pramod Mahajan eight days, Jaswant Singh two days and Kalyan Singh four days.

BJP Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Babu Lal Gaur, also a Backward Class leader, will tour Bihar for five days while Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will campaign for three days, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for the same number of days and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for six days.

In Haryana, Sushma Swaraj will spend nine days, the maximum among national leaders. Vajpayee and Advani will tour the State for two days each.

The senior leaders will spend almost equal amount of time in Jharkhand.