Bhopal: The “unscheduled” meeting of Union water resources minister Uma Bharti with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Nagpur in Maharashtra on Wednesday has given rise to speculations that she might be projected as alternative to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhah by BJP in 2018 assembly elections in MP.
Sources close to Ms Bharti said that the meeting, held at the RSS headquarters, had reportedly taken stock of the reported simmering farmer unrest in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of June six killing of five tillers in police firing at Mandsaur.
The meeting that had lasted nearly 15 minutes has been attached with much significance in ruling BJP circle here in view of alleged failure by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan to address the issue politically which has threatened to alienate the farmers, a strong base of BJP in MP, from the party.
The Central party leadership was particularly worried over lukewarm response BJP’s ongoing “Kissan Yatra” has received in the state so far. The BJP has launched a “Kissan yatra” to reach out farmers across the state to address their grievances following the June six Mandsaur tragedy. The yatra had attracted hostile receptions at several places particularly in Mandsaur, from the farmers.
