Asaram, son float new party; to contest Delhi polls

Apparently stung by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to keep his pre-poll promise to free him from the “false” charges of rape, self-styled godman Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai have entered politics by floating their own party.

The father-son duo has resurrected Ojaswi Party, which Narayan had formed five years ago, and has vowed to contest Assembly polls in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand.  “Bapu wants Ojaswi Party to field candidates in all the 70 constituencies in Delhi,” national vice president of the new outfit Swami Omji told Deccan Herald.

Omji said the decision to revive the party was taken after an hour-long meeting of the leaders convened by Bapu in Jodhpur jail, where he has been lodged on charges of rape and sexual assault. He said the party is committed to provide a corruption-free government in Delhi and a new chief minister. Ever since its formation five years ago, Narayan Sai has been holding the post of party president while his father remains its chief patron.

Omji said BJP’s Narendra Modi promised to provide all possible help after coming to power, but being in office for nearly six months, Modi and the BJP have turned their back on the Bapu. “Bapu was very much hurt since Prime Minister Modi and the BJP have failed to keep their words. In this situation, Bapu directed us to get into politics,” he said.

Omji claimed that BJP president Amit Shah offered to have an alliance with Ojaswi Party, which he turned down.

The party will field Asaram’s followers in Delhi.