Monday, October 17 2005 12:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: With her loyalists mounting pressure for change of guard in Madhya Pradesh, saffron leader Uma Bharti today (Oct 17, 2005) postponed her return to Bihar for electioneering by a day and held parleys with senior leaders apparently over some MLAs' demand for her return as the Chief Minister.

Though the nature of the discussions were not known, Bharti was likely to have clarified her stand before senior leaders in the wake of around 50 MLAs, including some ministers, gathering at her residence yesterday, reportedly to voice their grudge against Chief Minister Babulal Gaur.

While the fiery sanyasin claimed that she was unwell, due to which she postponed her return to Bihar, she visited senior leaders since morning, sources said adding Bharti met party MP and former state party president Kailash Joshi, before rushing to the BJP office to meet party functionaries.]

During the meetings, she is believed to have raised the issue of MLAs' letter, wherein Gaur was accused of working at the behest of Congress leaders and neglecting party leaders, they said.

Demanding return of Bharti as the Chief Minister, her loyalists had claimed that over 80 MLAs have written to party President L K Advani asking him to convene a legislature party meeting for gauging the mood of members about Gaur and elect a new leader.

"Bharti claimed to have rebuked the MLAs for making the demand," Joshi told reporters, adding that "She, however, wanted Gaur to be away while meeting functionaries soas to talk freely".