Bhopal. Bharatiya Janata Party’s firebrand leader and former Union Minister Uma Bharti has announced to end her political retirement. She has indicated that she will try luck once again in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and will return to active politics.
Uma Bharti, who has been in a state of political retirement for a decade and a half, has said that she did not contest the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections because she was busy with the revival of the Ganges river. But now they are ready to return to active politics again.
Long time to spend
Uma Bharti, while discussing her active political future, has also commented on her age and informal policy related to BJP. He said that people would think that I have crossed the age of 75 years, but the truth is that I am not even 65. I have worked with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. I am 40 years younger than him. Since I have worked with them, people consider me their contemporary too. Actually, I will be active in politics for the next 15-20 years. Please tell that Uma Bharti celebrated her 63rd anniversary in the month of May.
No intention to leave BJP
Uma Bharti made it clear that she will be connected to the BJP and if he contests the election, only on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. He also said that he does not plan to join any other party or form a new party.
Hindutva leader Uma Bharti won the Lok Sabha elections for the first time in 1989 from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh and represented the seat in 1991, 1996 and 1998. He returned to Parliament by winning elections from Bhopal in 1999. She became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2003 but had to resign in 2004 due to the arrest warrant being issued in an old case. In 2014, she contested the Lok Sabha elections from Jhansi and became Union Minister. However, he did not contest in 2019 and 2024. According to a senior party leader, not contesting his election in 2024 was seen as a lack of confidence within the party and this caused some leaders uncomfortable.
Outrage with party in 2024?
According to experts, in 2024, Uma Bharti was not considered by the party to field. Some senior leaders believe that their not contesting the election was an indication that there is a lack of coordination with the party leadership. However, this was not publicly accepted. Now if she wants to fight in 2029, the party leadership will have to decide whether to give them a ticket or not.
Will the star of ‘Sadhvi politics’ shine again?
Uma Bharti has been considered a sharp voice of Hindutva in Indian politics. From the Ram temple movement to the Ganga cleanliness campaign, he has always done politics in his own style. His return in 2029 may also lead to a new political discourse within the BJP, especially about the new role of women leadership and old leaders. The reference to the age of 75 years by Uma Bharti is being linked to the BJP’s informal policy of 75 years of age as Prime Minister Modi himself is going to be 75 years old.
However, this announcement of Uma Bharti has come at a time when the leadership in the BJP is gradually going into the hands of the new generation. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether the party gives him an active role or confines them in a symbolic scope like ‘Guide Mandal’.
