Wednesday, October 12 2005 11:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to effect a leadership change in Madhya Pradesh by sending Uma Bharti to replace the incumbent Babulal Gaur. The decision in this regard was taken at the BJP General Secretaries' meeting chaired by party president L K Advani here last Saturday, party sources told sources yesterday (Oct 11, 2005).

The changeover has, however, been put on hold till after the end of the Bihar elections as Bharti would be required in the capacity of joint in-charge of the electioneering in the state, the sources said.

Bharti, who has been keen to return as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, is understood to have been sounded about the change being effected, they said.

She had resigned as the state Chief Minister in August last year after a Hubli court issued arrest warrants against her in a 1994 riot case. Before quitting, she chose Gaur to succeed her.

But after the case against her was dismissed, she has been yearning to go back to her state as Chief Minister but Gaur has been refusing to vacate the Chief Minister's post which has resulted in acrimony between the two.

The firebrand BJP leader was suspended from the party in December last year after she questioned the leadership of Advani at the party office bearers' meeting in full media glare. Subsequently, Bharti was in virtual political wilderness till she was rehabilitated about three months back by the party chief by making her joint in-charge of campaigning in Bihar.

At the meeting, the party leadership decided to effect the changeover in Madhya Pradesh at the earliest but general secretary in-charge of Bihar, Arun Jaitley, contended that she be allowed to campaign in the crucial upcoming Bihar polls.

Accordingly, it was decided that the changeover would be affected after the polls get over in November.

With a backward community background, Bharti is considered an able match in campaigning style to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, explaining her importance in the electioneering of the state.