BHOPAL: Pressure seems to be mounting on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh, with many supporters of the former Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, expressing their solidarity with her on Sunday. Some even demanded a leadership change.

Ms. Bharti's residence here witnessed hectic activity on Sunday. A large number of party MLAs and former Ministers visited her during the day.

About half-a-dozen Ministers also met Ms. Bharti following her arrival in the morning from Jabalpur, where she had gone to attend a two-day party convention.

Some MLAs told mediapersons that they wanted Ms. Bharti to return as chief minister.

Letter to Advani

Sources said that more than 90 MLAs had sent a letter to party president L.K. Advani asking him to convene a meeting of the legislature party to elect a new leader. BJP legislature party permanent secretary Gauri Shankar Kaushal was present at Ms. Bharti's residence on Sunday, they added. Talking to newspersons in the evening, Ms. Bharti denied any knowledge of the "letter addressed to Mr. Advani." She said the MLAs had only come to greet her on Dussehra.

When her attention was drawn to the controversy over her latest letter to RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan, Ms. Bharti said she would like to close that chapter and say nothing.

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