Friday, October 21 2005 15:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Morena (MP): Claiming that Uma Bharti loyalists seeking her reinstatement as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister were satisfied with the 'assurances' of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership, party leader and former Union Minister Prahlad Patel today (Oct 21, 2005) alleged that revolting MLAs were being threatened and kept under watch.

"I will not disclose what assurances Advaniji gave us. But we are satisfied with it," Patel told reporters here, a day after Bharti left for the second phase of electioneering in Bihar.

On whether phones of the MLAs were being tapped, he said, "This is true. The MLAs are being issued threats and kept under watch. They are afraid."

He refused to divulge the number of MLAs supporting the demand for a leadership change, saying that it was 'not appropriate at this juncture.'

Patel, a staunch supporter of Bharti who visited State Minister Rustam Singh and other MLAs during his visit here, claimed to have arrived here to inquire about the health of saint Kshama Sagar.

To a query about the word around that he had taken a vow that he will trim his beard only after Bharti returns as Chief Minister, the former union minister, laughed and said in a lighter vein, "I have come to know about the rumors. The beard grew long during my Narmada Parikrama. But I plan to trim it after this Krishna Paksha (15 days after full moon) is over."