NEW DELHI: The row over Babu Singh Kushwaha's induction into the party is refusing to die down with many senior BJP leaders jumping the bandwagon to criticise the decision in a bid to project the non-corrupt image of the party. While some leaders criticised the moves, other hailed it saying Kushwaha will help in exposing corruption in the Mayawati government.
The day saw Uma Bharti fall in line after a brief tantrum over Kushwaha's inclusion, but Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath warned the party's central leadership that he would disassociate himself from the party if it continues to induct tainted leaders and ministers expelled from BSP or any other party.
"If corrupt are included in the party, then it's shameful for us. We will have to decide whether to remain in politics or not," Adityanath said.
Babu Singh Kushwaha is facing CBI inquiry in the Rs 2,000 crore NRHM scam.
Unease within BJP has grown further with more leaders joining the chorus against the decision to induct Kushwaha.
Maneka Gandhi, BJP MP from Aaonla in Uttar Pradesh, criticised the decision to induct Kushwaha a day after leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Kirti Azad openly criticised the move to bring into the party fold a man the party was targeting for involvement in the NRHM scam.
"Taking into the party people who have been thrown out by BSP does not show us in good light. Nobody was consulted before inducting him. These leaders were reaping illegal benefits as ministers and no work was done," Gandhi said.
There are reports that firebrand leader Uma Bharti is also not happy with Kushwaha's induction. However, she refused to comment, saying she does not discuss such matters with the media and she would air her views only to the party.
Bharti is also miffed that her candidates are not being accommodated in ticket distribution. Other than Kushwaha, she is opposed to the induction of Bhadshah Singh who had fallen out with her during the 2002 elections in UP.
Senior leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi have already opposed the decision.
BJP leader Yashwant Sinha defended the decision, saying Kushwaha has come as a 'whistleblower' to the party and will expose the deeds of UP Chief Minister Mayawati.
Former BJP leader from UP Kalyan Singh claimed that there is 'financial deal' behind inclusion of Kushwaha.
"Joining of Kushwaha against whom there are serious allegations of corruption, which are being probed by CBI in BJP raises suspicion. It seems that there was a finacial deal of crores for his inclusion in the BJP. This should be probed by CBI", Singh said.