Khurana launches 'Bharatiya Jan Mahasangh'

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana on Monday announced the launch of his own party, which, he said, would serve as a platform for all mass leaders "sidelined" by the BJP.

Khurana, who resigned from the BJP in April following his suspension from the party he has been associated with since the Jan Sangh days, said he has appointed Sangh veteran Rajendra Gupta as president of the newly floated 'Bharatiya Jan Mahasangh'.

Delhi legislator Dayanand Chandela has been named the Mahasangh's secretary-general, he said.

"The Mahasangh -- a non-BJP, non-Congress and non-communist organisation -- will offer platform to all established BJP leaders who have been sidelined by the party leadership since 1998," Khurana told PTI.

He said the party would function as a non-political organisation for six months initially and then "it would take a full-fledged political role, two months ahead of Delhi's municipal elections."

Also, Khurana announced plans to launch a third front at the national level, primarily to oppose the BJP, in winter.

"This Mahasangh in Delhi is a precursor to a third front that will be launched in winter. I am in talks with different non-BJP, non-Congress parties for setting up a third front," he said.

Khurana was suspended from the BJP in March for defying party directives against joining former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti's rally in Delhi.