Discussions are underway in the BJP on fielding Uma Bharti or Smriti Irani against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday.

“Whether that report is correct or not would be known after the ticket is announced. It is true that a suggestion has come (on fielding Uma Bharti). Some have given a suggestion that Smriti Irani can be fielded. The party is discussing that,” he said.

To a question on the resentment expressed by senior leaders like Jaswant Singh (from Barmer in Rajasthan) and Lalmuni Chaubey following the denial of tickets, Naidu, a member of the BJP Central Election Committee, said he had favoured giving a ticket to the former Union minister.

“You have taken two names. Among 543 constituencies, this has happened in one or two constituencies. It is unfortunate. I am not belittling anyone. Jaswant Singh is a senior leader. The party gave him many opportunities.

“He has been an MP, minister, opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha. I favoured giving him a ticket, but it could not be done due to local factors. Everyone should follow the party’s decisions. It is unfortunate that he has filed a nomination as an Independent,” he said.