The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday suspended former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti "till further action" and not for six years, as reported by a section of the media.

The party suspended her and served her a show-cause notice asking why she should not be expelled following her outburst against some of her party colleagues at a meeting of the newly constituted office-bearers.

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Immediately after party leader Jaswant Singh announced her suspension, BJP vice-president Bal Apte was sent to her with a formal notice.

Jaswant Singh announced this shortly after Bharti walked out of the meeting in defiance of the leadership.

Before walking out, Uma accused some of the party leaders of making defamatory statements in the media against her.

"All office-bearers of the party recommended to the party president [Lal Kishenchand Advani] that Uma Bharti no longer be kept as general secretary and be suspended from the primary membership of the party," Singh said.

"The party president has taken a decision accordingly," Singh said.

Singh, who was accompanied by party spokesman Arun Jaitley, said the meeting proceeded smoothly after Uma Bharti left the venue.