NEW DELHI, 6 January 2005 — After weeks of war of words, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur and firebrand Bharatiya Janata Party leader Uma Bharati have buried the hatchet after a joint meeting with party president L.K. Advani with Gaur apologizing for having made critical remarks against her.

“I express regret for having made harsh remarks against her (Bharati),” Gaur, flanked by the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, told reporters after the 30-minute meeting the duo had with Advani.

Uma responded by saying that Gaur’s expression of apology showed his “greatness and specialty” and added that all differences had ended with it.

The two had been engaged in a slanging match for weeks which intensified after Uma was suspended from BJP for challenging Advani on Nov. 10. Gaur had welcomed the step triggering harsh reaction and counter-reactions.

After yesterday’s meeting, Gaur described Uma as his “Didi” (sister) and said they have decided to work together. Uma, who came to Advani’s residence along with RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy, said she had told the BJP president that she had no “grudge” against Gaur. She said Gaur was elder to her by 30 years and was a father-figure and a respected person.

In another development, the Congress Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are likely to finalize their seat-sharing arrangement soon. Leaders of both the parties are expected to hold talks in a day or two to finalize the tie-up for next month’s Assembly poll in Jharkhand. The eastern state will go to the polls for the first time after it was carved out of Bihar.

Meanwhile, sticking to his earlier stand, Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday asked the Janata Dal-United to part company with BJP and Congress with ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal for firming up a grand alliance for upcoming assembly poll in Bihar.

“I invite JD-U and Congress for having an electoral understanding with us after the two parties severe their relation with BJP and ruling RJD,” Paswan said.

He said senior JD-U leader Nitish Kumar had offered him the post of Chief Minister while holding discussion with him on the contentious issue of seat-sharing. “I now offer him (Nitish) the CM’s post. We will welcome him for a poll pact provided the JD-U breaks its alliance with the communal BJP,” he said.

Paswan had on Tuesday rubbished as “totally false” BJP’s assertion that Nitish has been authorized by the saffron party to hold talks with LJP to put up a united fight against RJD in Bihar and had said LJP would have no truck with BJP and RJD.

On the other hand, the Patna High Court has ordered the Bihar police to prepare a list of all absconders against whom Nonbailable Warrants are pending.

The police have been asked to submit the warrants to all returning officers of Bihar by Friday, so that they can be arrested while filing their nominations.