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Yogi Adityanath, controversial BJP MP from Gorakhpur, seemed set on Sunday to go the Uma Bharti way, as he announced that he would launch a new political party on March 23 and would field 70 candidates in the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

His statement appears to bring to an end efforts by BJP leaders to pacify him since he quit the BJP's national executive three days ago in protest against denial of ticket to more than 20 of his hard-core supporters in eastern UP.

A Rajput, 34-year-old Adityanath, is a third time MP from Gorakhpur and head of the Gorakhnath Mutt.

"Hindutva and development will be the party's poll planks," Adityanath said in Gorakhpur, adding that he would would field candidates in Gorakhpur, Basti, Devipatan and Azamgarh divisions of eastern UP.

The MP, who recently broke down in the Lok Sabha alleging harassment at the hands of the Mulyam Singh government, has accused the BJP of fielding weak candidates to help Mulayam. "The BJP has cheated me on the matter of ticket distribution."

Adityanath's revolt could harm the prospects of the BJP candidates where his Hindu Vahini is active. "For quite some time I have been alienated in the party in the state party affairs, the party has given tickets to sympathisers of Mulayam Singh regime and have neglected everyone who stands by the Hindu ideology," he had said after submitting his resignation to party president Rajnath Singh.

Senior BJP leaders sought to assuage Adityanath, saying that they would "do their best" to his demand. BJP officials said only six of Adiyanath's 32 supporters got ticket.

Adityanath had hinted at even aligning with rebel leader Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Janshakti Party. He had said "I would support every candidate who stands for the Hindu cause. If required I would also quit from the Lok Sabha. As for now I have no role in BJP." 

He accused the BJP of being "totally silent" on police atrocities against Hindus in Gorakhpur. Adityanath was detained in connection with the communal riots in Gorakhpur.