Bharati to field woman candidate against Sonia

Lucknow: Expelled BJP leader Uma Bharati will be fielding a woman candidate against Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli where by-elections are due after Sonia's resignation from the Lok Sabha.

"I wanted to contest myself against Sonia Gandhi but I am launching a new political party on April 30 and may not be able to give sufficient time to Rae Bareli. I will be fielding a woman candidate from my party against Mrs Gandhi. I have written a letter to all heads of political parties, asking them to support a joint candidate against Mrs Gandhi and I am waiting for their response before I announce the name of my candidate," Bharati announced at a press conference yesterday.

She said that even though she would run in the Rae Bareli by-election, she would remain a shadow candidate against Sonia.