New Delhi: BJP leader Uma Bharti's migration from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh is now complete. In a seemingly hasty press conference on Wednesday, the BJP announced her candidature in the UP polls. Uma Bharti will be contesting from Charkhari in Mahoba district of Bundelkhand.

With this move, the BJP is attempting to neutralize the Kalyan Singh factor. This region strategically borders Madhya Pradesh. BJP president Nitin Gadkari said she would be the party's star campaigner in UP.

"There had been talks that Bharti should be fielded in the assembly elections. I met her today and decided to field her in the elections," Gadkari said. Asked whether she will be the Chief Minister if BJP comes to power in UP, he said the decision will be taken by the MLAs who get elected after in the polls. He said former CM Rajnath Singh, Bharti and party veteran Kalraj Mishra and Surya Pratap Sahi will lead the party campaign together in the state where BJP had won 48 seats in the last elections in 2007.

Uma Bharti told reporters that the priority of the party is to come to power in the state and make it into "Uttam Pradesh". She termed as "unconstitutional" the 4.5 per cent sub quota for minority within the 27 per cent quota for OBCs. "While the minority should get education and employment, it should not be at the cost of OBCs. They have been deprived of their rights," she said.

IBN Live January 19^th 2012.