This Article is From May 30, 2016

'Ajit Singh Has Lost Forever,' Says Uma Bharti Amid Buzz On UP Alliance

Uma Bharti's is among several names that have been mentioned as possible leaders the BJP could project in Uttar Pradesh.

Highlights

  • Not worried about possible Ajit Singh-SP alliance in UP, says Uma Bharti
  • She's thought to be among leaders BJP may project in UP ahead of polls
  • I can't think beyond the Ganga for now, says Union water minister
Uma Bharti, union minister and parliamentarian from Uttar Pradesh, says she is not worried about buzz on a possible alliance between politician Ajit Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party ahead of crucial elections in the state.   

"Ajit Singh just lost an election, before that he used to always win. I think he has lost forever," the saffron-robed Ms Bharti, who is a sadhvi or monk, told NDTV.

Her name has come up amid much speculation on contenders for chief minister if the BJP's plan to win UP in early 2017 works."The party is discussing these issues but if you ask me, I can't think beyond Ganga, Ganga, Ganga," says the minister for water resources, whose big assignment is cleaning the Ganga river. She has promised a clean Ganga by 2018.

Many are skeptical about that deadline, especially because the river flows through states like UP, Bihar, Bengal and Uttarakhand, all ruled by opposition parties whose help she will need to enlist in her mammoth assignment. But Uma Bharti says she does not share their doubts.

"The charm of the Ganga" will win everyone over, she insists, stating that UP chief minister and Mulayam Singh's son Akhilesh Yadav is converted, though she has earlier complained that he had refused to even meet her.

"Yes, what I said in Parliament is absolutely true, but Akhilesh has now asked for a presentation to give us his consent. I hope he is reminded of that when he sees this interview,'' she said.

Ms Bharti's is among several names that have been mentioned as possible leaders the BJP could project in Uttar Pradesh, where the party hopes to convert its spectacular performance in the 2014 national election into a victory in assembly elections. The party had won 71 of UP's 80 Lok Sabha seats, among them Ms Bharti's Jhansi.

Among others who have been talked about are union minister Smriti Irani and Varun Gandhi.

The BJP has in many recent elections chosen not to project a chief ministerial candidate, but did so in Assam and won its first state in the North East this month.      
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