New Delhi:
So far, it's the exchange between Mayawati and Rahul Gandhi that has delivered some of the more memorable catch-phrases of the Uttar Pradesh elections. He referred to her party symbol, the elephant, as a "jaadoo ka haathi" who makes money disappear. She caustically refers to him as "yuvraaj," stressing the Congress' alleged penchant for dynastic politics. Their barbs seem about as biting as a high-tea now that the fiery Uma Bharti is in the picture.
The BJP announced yesterday that the sanyasin and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh will contest the assembly election from Charkari in Bundelkhand, one of the most under-developed regions of Uttar Pradesh, and one that is being wooed heavily by the Congress. Mr Gandhi, currently touring in this region said today, "Where was she when farmers were dying in Bundelkhand? Now that elections are here, she has come to you."
Ms Bharti did not shy away. "I would like to remind Rahul Gandhi that his mother is from Rome and she was accepted in India. So if Sonia from Italy can be accepted in India, I am from Madhya Pradesh and can be accepted here. Rahul must remember his mother's background before commenting on his aunt."
She challenged the Congress general secretary, scornfully reminding him that she had trounced senior leader Digvijaya Singh, who she called Mr Gandhi's "political guru" in Madhya Pradesh and said would do much the same in UP. In 2001, Ms Bharti had led the BJP to a big victory against the Congress and Mr Singh, who had then been the CM of Madhya Pradesh for a decade. So shocked was Mr Singh at his defeat, that he banished himself to a 10-year political exile. Mr Singh is in UP this time strategising for the Congress.
The Congress is not amused at Ms Bharti's comparisons. Spokesperson Rashid Alvi was quick on the draw to say today, "Sonia Gandhi today is not just the leader of the Congress. The country thinks of her as their leader. The sacrifices she has made for the country have given us direction. Madhya Pradesh has refused to accept Uma Bharti and she had to leave the state. I don't understand that if MP didn't accept her, how did she think that UP will?"
Mr Alvi also added what will definitely not be the last word in this duel. "Her own party threw her out of MP politics. If the BJP doesn't have any leadership in UP, then it is unfortunate for them," he said.
Ms Bharti, along with senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra is leading the BJP's campaign in UP; the party had won 48 of the 403 seats in the last assembly elections. Ms Bharti returned to the BJP last year after spending six years trying to make it on her own. She had been expelled for indiscipline in December 2005.
The BJP announced yesterday that the sanyasin and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh will contest the assembly election from Charkari in Bundelkhand, one of the most under-developed regions of Uttar Pradesh, and one that is being wooed heavily by the Congress. Mr Gandhi, currently touring in this region said today, "Where was she when farmers were dying in Bundelkhand? Now that elections are here, she has come to you."
Ms Bharti did not shy away. "I would like to remind Rahul Gandhi that his mother is from Rome and she was accepted in India. So if Sonia from Italy can be accepted in India, I am from Madhya Pradesh and can be accepted here. Rahul must remember his mother's background before commenting on his aunt."
She challenged the Congress general secretary, scornfully reminding him that she had trounced senior leader Digvijaya Singh, who she called Mr Gandhi's "political guru" in Madhya Pradesh and said would do much the same in UP. In 2001, Ms Bharti had led the BJP to a big victory against the Congress and Mr Singh, who had then been the CM of Madhya Pradesh for a decade. So shocked was Mr Singh at his defeat, that he banished himself to a 10-year political exile. Mr Singh is in UP this time strategising for the Congress.
The Congress is not amused at Ms Bharti's comparisons. Spokesperson Rashid Alvi was quick on the draw to say today, "Sonia Gandhi today is not just the leader of the Congress. The country thinks of her as their leader. The sacrifices she has made for the country have given us direction. Madhya Pradesh has refused to accept Uma Bharti and she had to leave the state. I don't understand that if MP didn't accept her, how did she think that UP will?"
Mr Alvi also added what will definitely not be the last word in this duel. "Her own party threw her out of MP politics. If the BJP doesn't have any leadership in UP, then it is unfortunate for them," he said.
Ms Bharti, along with senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra is leading the BJP's campaign in UP; the party had won 48 of the 403 seats in the last assembly elections. Ms Bharti returned to the BJP last year after spending six years trying to make it on her own. She had been expelled for indiscipline in December 2005.
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