BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti has told her Lodhi community that they are free to vote for any party by taking their own interest into account, prompting the Congress to read in it a message against the ruling party and to welcome her to “the grand campaign to save Madhya Pradesh”.

The Lodhis come under the other backward classes (OBC). Bharti’s message came during her address to a convention of marriageable boys and girls of her community on December 25 in Bhopal, but a video clip of her purported remarks surfaced on Tuesday evening.

Madhya Pradesh is a BJP-governed state.

“I will come, I will come on the platform of my party, I will ask for votes. I never say that if you are a Lodhi then vote for the BJP. I tell everyone to vote for the BJP because I am a loyal soldier of my party. But I will expect a little from you that you will be a loyal soldier of the party,” Bharti said.

Bharti added: “You have to see the surroundings and look for your interests. If you are not a party worker or a party voter, you have to decide for yourself. We are in the bond of love but from my side, you are completely free from the political bonding.”

The state Congress tweeted a video of Bharti’s address and said: “Big message for Lodhi community — senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti has indicated to the Lodhi community that now there is no need to vote for the BJP. Uma Bharti Ji, welcome in the grand campaign to save Madhya Pradesh.”

State BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said the Congress was excited without any reason. “Uma Ji is a saint and talks like this. She is dedicated and loyal to Lord Ram and the BJP as well. The Congress is unnecessarily expressing happiness,” he said. Bharti is yet to comment on the video.