Upset with Uma Bharati, former chief minister and Bharatiya Janashakti Party (BJS) national executive president, Madan Lal Khurana on Saturday said he would soon float a new party. “If Uma Bharati wanted to withdraw her candidates in UP, why did she field them in the first two phases of the elections?” he asked, adding the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had left him with no option but to resign from the BJS.

His resignation comes two days after Bharati pulled out her candidates in favour of the BJP in UP in order to “consolidate Hindutva votes”. While the gesture took her closer to the BJP, it did not work the same way for Khurana. Bharati is reportedly annoyed with Khurana for the party’s poor performance during the recently held civic polls in New Delhi.

Contrary to Khurana’s claims that he took the decision after Bharati “joined hands with the BJP”, sources said his move to float a new party was aimed at putting pressure on the BJP so it would take him back before the Delhi Assembly polls next year. Like Bharati, most senior BJS leaders feel Khurana is responsible for the party’s debacle in the MCD polls. BJS national general secretary Begraj Khatana criticised Khurana’s ticket distribution strategy. “We would have done much better had Khurana not distributed tickets to those close to him,” he said.