Ending speculations, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced that Uma Bharti will not be fielded against Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency.
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the party has decided that Uma Bharti will contest from Jhansi only.
The candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli will be finalised shortly, added Trivedi.
The BJP’s decision came minutes after Uma Bharti, on micro blogging website Twitter, tweeted that she cannot leave Jhansi, which is in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier this week, yoga guru Baba Ramdev had urged the BJP to field Uma Bharti against Sonia Gandhi.
He had said if the BJP agreed to field Bharti from Rae Bareli, he and his followers would campaign for her.
Earlier in the day, Trivedi had said that the BJP would put up “formidable” candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli.
There are speculations that actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani could be fielded against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi.
Asked whether BJP is considering to field Irani and Bharati, Trivedi had said: “Many suggestions have come from all quarters for certain parliamentary seats. But finally the party takes a decision considering all aspects and suggestions.”
