Tuesday, March 21 2006 17:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh BJP has tightened noose around expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti's loyalists by suspending over 80 of them, including four MLAs.

Around two-three workers were suspended in almost every district since Bharti took out her `Ram Roti' yatra from the state capital in November, 2005, and subsequently got herself expelled, state BJP spokesman Bhupendra Singh told sources.

"There were around 15-20 prominent leaders including four MLAs -Sunil Nayak, Jalam Singh Patel, Rasaal Singh and Hakam Singh Chadar- against whom action was taken," he said, ruling out any impact of her recent actions on party workers.

Claiming that no mainstream saffron leader in the statehas come out openly in her support, Singh said instructions to party workers to refrain from her political functions were issued and a strict vigil was being maintained.

Bharti camp, which has been claiming huge support for her, had been banking on a large section of MLAs to break off from BJP once she announces her new party, sources said.

State BJP unit, on the other hand, has been closely watching actions and statements of 'her prospective supporters,' beside acting against over 80 partymen since November 28, 2005, to send out a clear message among the flock that indiscipline 'in any form' will not be tolerated, they added.

Recent onslaught came in Khargone against nearly a dozen local leaders, including district BJP cooperative cell chief Rajendra Parsai, BJYM president M Saini and district BJP women cell president Vimla Jaiswal, sources said.