Uma Bharti stays out of Lok Sabha polls, appointed BJP vice president 

Union Minister Uma Bharti, who has decided not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, was on Saturday appointed the BJP's national Vice President.

"Uma Bharti ji had expressed her wish to not contest election and to work for the organization. BJP President has appointed her as the national Vice President of the party," Union Minister J.P. Nadda told reporters.

Uma Bharti, who represents Jhansi in the Lok Sabha, had earlier conveyed to the BJP leadership her wish to not contest the elections.

After the party formally announced her new responsibility, Uma Bharti said she will campaign for the party till the Lok Sabha polls and then focus on works assigned by the party besides concentrating on her works for river Ganga.

"I am happy that party respected my feelings. I will try my best to be an efficient and able worker of the party under Amit Shah," she tweeted.

Union Minister Sushma Swaraj had also expressed her wish to refrain from contesting the Lok Sabha elections on grounds of ill-health.

The BJP on Saturday released first list of 15 candidates from Madhya Pradesh but didn't announce who will be its candidate from Vidisha, the seat represented by Sushma Swaraj.